Laredo’s only faith-based non-profit outreach ministry, Mercy Ministries of Laredo (MML), has expanded its nurse practitioner team to three in order to continue its growing service mission here. 

Sister Maria Luisa Vera, CEO for the Ministries, said MML is blessed by the new the strengths each individual coworker brings to the team. 

“Our ministry of health, education and social service is well-delivered by these nursing professionals who represent the best and brightest this caring profession offers.  With growing need for our services, we consider ourselves blessed to be able to enjoy their partnership,” Sister Vera said.

 The three Laredo natives are all registered nurses and hold advanced degrees and specialties. They are Dolores A. Canales, Ana Laura Garza and Sandra P. Santos.

Canales, a Women’s Health Care Nurse practitioner, completed her training at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas.  Her education and experience will assist MML’s delivery of gynecological exams, low-risk obstetric care, and biopsy procedures.  Prior to joining MML, she was affiliated with the former Mercy Hospital as a post-partum nurse and women’s health care nurse practitioner.

Garza holds Bachelors and Masters in Nursing from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  Her specialty in delivering a holistic service approach with special attention to  chronic conditions like, diabetes and hypertension services, among others.

Sandra Santos is the newest team addition and holds her Bachelors in Nursing from Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) where she was part of the first group of TAMIU students to earn a Master of Science in from the Canseco School of Nursing there. She is a member of the Nursing Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi. She has extensive experience in coordinating care delivery processes, management of staff and patients and establishing training courses.  Prior to coming to MML, she was a case manager and charge RN at Laredo Medical Center and a staff RN for the post partum unit at the former Mercy Health Center.

Mercy Ministries of Laredo is a non-profit outreach ministry dedicated to a variety of community needs. Inspired and led by the Sisters of Mercy, its mission includes 14 primary healthcare, healthcare education and social service offerings for Laredo and surrounding rural communities. Its ministries address the needs of all people, with special concern for the poor, marginal, women and children.

Other programs include dental care, medication assistance, outreach and education and specialized services including cancer-assistance, specialty physician referrals and chronic illness management.

For more information, call Sister Vera at MML at 718-6810, visit offices at 2500 Zacatecas, email mlvera@mercy.net