A Bronx veteran who served as a senior nurse advisor caring for American soldiers and Afghani civilians was recently awarded a certificate of recognition honoring her contributions to her nation and the medical field.
On Tuesday, May 19, Senator Jeff Klein honored Analiza Benjamin, Captain in the United States Navy Reserve Nurse Corps. and North Bronx Healthcare Network senior associate director for nursing administration at the 2015 Veterans Hall of Fame Celebration in Albany.
“For the distinguished men and women in uniform who have proudly served this country, the American people owe you a great debt of gratitude. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in government to honor and celebrate Analiza Benjamin who has served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for nearly 20 years,” Senator Jeff Klein expressed.
“Analiza is an inspiration to us all, bravely fighting for the ideals, democracy and freedom we hold dear. I applaud Analiza for the tremendous sacrifices she has made over the years and it is with great pleasure that I stand here today to honor a true Bronxite and American hero,” he added.
This American hero’s resume includes enlisting into the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1997, the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp. in 2008, and the U.S. Navy Nurse Reserve in 2012 to pursue her dream of serving her nation as a nurse aiding her fellow soldiers in the line of fire with the medical treatment they require.
Benjamin, a Pelham Bay resident and mother of three, recently returned from active military duty in Kabul, Afghanistan where she served as a senior nurse advisor to the Afghanistan Army’s National Military Hospital.
She began working there as a senior nurse mentor, a high ranking position bestowed due to her extensive medical and military experiences.
Serving as senior nurse corps officer, Benjamin worked as senior nurse advisor to the Afghanistan National Army’s Chief of Nursing.
During her 2012 deployment, she penned the first complete pharmacology reference manual for the hospital’s nursing department while working with international military partners and health officials to educate and train all nursing staff at the 400-bed coordinated care facility.
Benjamin had this same medical manual translated into Dari, the native Afghan language and conducted numerous training sessions and presentations regarding patient safety, quality patient care as well as attaining and self-sustaining a quality health care.
Further, Benjamin has worked with the U.S. Navy as well as other military branches and international military partners to better train and educate Afghan residents on these issues.
In 2013, she was transferred to Operational Health Support Unit Portsmouth Detachment A, Navy Operational Support Center New York City with the rank of captain to ensure proper communication among clinical personnel and certain military liaison/personnel.
As the North Bronx Health Care Network’s senior associate director of nursing administration, Benjamin oversees the operation and clinical staffing of the hospital to ensure both patient safety and satisfaction.
In addition, she is responsible for the development and implementation of the nursing department’s policies and procedures.
Prior to her military service in Afghanistan, Benjamin engaged in humanitarian medical missions in Thailand and her native Philippines.
“As an immigrant to the United States, being inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame means a great deal to me,” Benjamin divulged.
