Salina Rivera

San Antonio, USA

Salina Rivera is a heart failure and cardiogenic shock survivor, patient advocate, and national speaker whose lived experience spans nearly three decades of advanced cardiovascular care. After developing chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy from Adriamycin treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she progressed to advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock, requiring LVAD implantation in 2006, subsequent myocardial recovery, long-term guideline-directed medical therapy, Impella 5.5 temporary mechanical circulatory support in 2022, and ultimately heart transplantation.

Salina serves on advisory boards and steering committees focused on clinical research and device therapy, bringing a recovery-centered and patient-driven perspective to trial design and innovation. She has provided in-person testimony before the FDA and speaks nationally on cardiogenic shock survivorship, GDMT optimization, and redefining recovery beyond survival.

As an author and advocate, she aims to elevate the patient voice in cardiovascular innovation and to help shape research that prioritizes meaningful life after critical illness.