More than 400 employed and affiliated advanced practice providers (APPs) collaborate with Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s physicians, nurses and clinical teams to deliver expert care to our patients. This month, we’re highlighting Kelly Guerrero, PA, who works at Roper Hospital’s Heart Failure and Valve Clinic.
1. Share a fun fact about yourself and/or what do you enjoy doing outside of work.
Outside of work, I most enjoy spending time with my family. I am the proud mom of two energetic, spirited boys who are my greatest pride and joy. We love being outdoors—whether it is fishing in our neighborhood pond and playing sports or going to the beach, swimming and riding bikes – there is never a dull moment and always tons of laughter.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Honduras on a medical outreach mission with Partners 4 Global Health. While there, I had the privilege of working alongside Roper St. Francis Healthcare colleagues and local providers to treat over eleven hundred patients. It was truly a life-changing experience that shifted my perspective. I am excited join the team again in March on another mission.
2. How long have you been a PA and what inspired you to work in medicine?
I have been a PA for over 17 years. My journey into medicine was inspired by growing up in a family of medical professionals. While it may sound cliché, I have always had a passion for helping others, which naturally led me to pursue a career where I knew I could make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
3. How long have you worked with RSFH? What specialty areas?
I began my journey at RSFH in 2007 as a student. During my second clinical rotation, I had the privilege of meeting and learning from Dr. Jeffrey Rieder, which ignited my love for cardiology. In 2008, I became the first physician assistant to join the cardiology team at RSFH, working alongside Drs. Rieder and Lars Runquist. While I have briefly explored other specialties over the years, cardiology has remained my true calling. I’m currently serving in the Roper St. Francis Heart Failure and Valve Clinic downtown at Roper Hospital, where I continue to follow my passion for cardiovascular care.
4. Tell us about your current role and what you find most rewarding about it.
Currently, I work at the Roper St. Francis Heart & Vascular Center, an outpatient clinic that provides care for patients with heart failure and valvular heart disease—many of whom have recently been discharged from the hospital. Our primary goal is to offer close follow-up and personalized care to help reduce readmissions. What I love most about this role is that it allows me to spend more time with my patients, ask deeper questions and truly get to know their stories and needs.
I also focus on screening and identifying patients with severe valvular heart disease. Every Tuesday morning, our valve team—comprising structural and non-invasive cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiovascular anesthesiologists, imaging specialists and our valve coordinator—gathers to discuss and review complex cases. In 2022, Dr. Blase Carabello, a world-renowned valve specialist, joined our team, further enhancing our expertise. Our multidisciplinary approach ensures that we develop comprehensive care plans that integrate clinical, percutaneous and surgical treatments tailored to each patient’s specific needs.
5. Tell us a patient story that has really touched you.
Over the years, I have encountered many patients whose stories have deeply impacted me. The ones that stand out are those of patients who, despite overwhelming adversity, remain optimistic and refuse to give up. These are the patients who continue to smile when it seems like all hope is lost, who remain positive, still crack a joke and can always find a silver lining. After 17 years in medicine, it is easy to become somewhat jades or hardened, but patients like these serve as a powerful reminder of why I chose this field. Their resilience and strength inspire me and have taught me invaluable lessons – ones that have not only shaped how I practice, but also my outlook on life.
Recently, Kelly wrote about a patient who “reignited her passion for cardiology and patient care” in our collection of teammates’ “Why I Walk” stories in observance of the 2025 Lowcountry Heart Walk.
6. How do you advocate for your patients?
I advocate for my patients in multiple ways, but recently, my focus has been on understanding the psychological impacts of heart disease and its impact on patients’ overall quality of life. I’ve been actively researching and seeking resources to better support patients struggling mentally after receiving a diagnosis such as heart failure and for those who survived sudden cardiac arrest and are learning to live with a defibrillator. While the connection between the heart and the mind is widely acknowledged, there remains a gap in understanding how these psychological challenges influence a patient’s overall health and how we, as healthcare providers, can address them effectively. Over 50 percent of patients who experience a life-changing cardiac event, such having cardiac surgery, struggle with anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, many of us working in cardiology are not trained to screen for or manage these conditions. By taking the time to engage with patients about both their physical and mental well-being, I am validating their experience and referring them to the appropriate people and resources so they can receive the comprehensive support they need.
7. Are there any mentors or experiences that significantly shaped your approach to patient care?
I have had the privilege of working with some truly exceptional physicians, each with a unique approach to patient care that has shaped my own practice. Much of what I know and the success I have achieved can be attributed to these mentors, who took the time to teach me not just the science of medicine, but the art of it. The one who has had the greatest impact on me, and whom I quote most often, is Dr. Jeffrey Rieder.
I first met Dr. Rieder when I was 22, eager yet inexperienced. He quickly taught me the critical importance of humility. His advice to “know what you don’t know” and to always seek help when needed has been invaluable throughout my career. Beyond clinical knowledge, Dr. Rieder also emphasized that medicine is fundamentally a service—a service to our patients, their families, and the referring providers.
He showed me the profound effect that bedside manner and building a strong rapport can have in alleviating patient anxiety. We often joke that every patient is Dr. Rieder’s “favorite patient,” because that is how he makes them feel. This philosophy has deeply influenced my approach to patient care and has become central to the way I interact with those I serve.
Dr. Rieder also made cardiology—an area I never imagined I would pursue—both exciting and tons of fun. While I may never fully grasp the metaphor of the heart as an engine in a car, or any one of his car analogies for that matter, I can confidently say that without his guidance, I would not be in cardiology today, nor would I be the provider I am. Dr. Rieder remains an ongoing source of inspiration and knowledge for me, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have learned from someone like him.