Sandra Benitez has a natural gift for caring for others. Readers may remember her from our August feature, where she was highlighted as a participant in PCC’s Workforce Capacity program. This program, an initiative with Nexus Montgomery partner hospitals, provides scholarships to county residents like Sandra who aspire to work in health care. The initiative is especially meaningful in Sandra’s case—she grew up in Montgomery County and is now pursuing a career that allows her to give back to the community that raised her.
“My interest in caring for others began when I watched my grandmother navigate the health care system. I saw the incredible work the staff did to support her, but I also felt there was more I could contribute. That experience sparked my desire to pursue a career in caring for others,” Sandra shared. Her professional path started at Proyecto Salud Clinic, where she worked as an administrator from 2020 to 2025, focusing on facilitating patient care. Yet, Sandra’s true passion has always been to work directly with patients. “I loved helping people solve problems and creating opportunities for them, but deep down I knew what I really wanted was to be at the bedside—providing comfort, safety, and relief.”
Maria Caro, a Care Manager with the Montgomery Cares Behavioral Health Program at Proyecto Salud Clinic, came to know Sandra and quickly recognized that Sandra possessed the qualities of an outstanding nurse. Maria encouraged her to apply for the Workforce Capacity Program. “The timing was perfect—I was ready to follow my passion and the program aligned with exactly what I wanted to do,” Sandra recalls. She enrolled in October 2024, completed the program by December, and soon after accepted a position as a CNA at Holy Cross Hospital. There, she is now engaged in the hands-on work she had always envisioned for herself.
Sandra emphasizes the profound impact a caregiver can have on a patient. Rooted in her community, with strong family ties and a deep commitment to serving those around her, she brings both loyalty and optimism to her work. “I don’t like sadness—I prefer to bring joy, and that motivates me,” she says. Inspired years ago by those who cared for her grandmother, Sandra hopes to nurture that same seed of compassion as she grows in her career. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatric nurse, expanding her skills to support patients and families at the very start of life—though she values the importance of caregiving across every stage.
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 8% ($116,566) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery, Maryland Physicians Care, and the Maryland Department of Labor.
“My interest in caring for others began when I watched my grandmother navigate the health care system. I saw the incredible work the staff did to support her, but I also felt there was more I could contribute. That experience sparked my desire to pursue a career in caring for others,” Sandra shared. Her professional path started at Proyecto Salud Clinic, where she worked as an administrator from 2020 to 2025, focusing on facilitating patient care. Yet, Sandra’s true passion has always been to work directly with patients. “I loved helping people solve problems and creating opportunities for them, but deep down I knew what I really wanted was to be at the bedside—providing comfort, safety, and relief.”
Maria Caro, a Care Manager with the Montgomery Cares Behavioral Health Program at Proyecto Salud Clinic, came to know Sandra and quickly recognized that Sandra possessed the qualities of an outstanding nurse. Maria encouraged her to apply for the Workforce Capacity Program. “The timing was perfect—I was ready to follow my passion and the program aligned with exactly what I wanted to do,” Sandra recalls. She enrolled in October 2024, completed the program by December, and soon after accepted a position as a CNA at Holy Cross Hospital. There, she is now engaged in the hands-on work she had always envisioned for herself.
Sandra emphasizes the profound impact a caregiver can have on a patient. Rooted in her community, with strong family ties and a deep commitment to serving those around her, she brings both loyalty and optimism to her work. “I don’t like sadness—I prefer to bring joy, and that motivates me,” she says. Inspired years ago by those who cared for her grandmother, Sandra hopes to nurture that same seed of compassion as she grows in her career. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatric nurse, expanding her skills to support patients and families at the very start of life—though she values the importance of caregiving across every stage.
A grant from the U.S. Department of Labor(DOL)’s Employment and Training Administration funds 92% ($1.3 million) of the cost to train 200 healthcare workers and increase Montgomery College training capacity between December 2023 and November 2025. Non-governmental funds, including support from Maryland Physicians Care, support 8% ($116,566) of these costs. Additional workforce capacity efforts have been supported by WorkSource Montgomery, Maryland Physicians Care, and the Maryland Department of Labor.
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