Maria Cristina Rodriguez, RN, BSN

María Cristina Rodríguez is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Schnitzler Cardiovascular Consultants, PLLC, one of the largest private practices in the State of Texas.

Her education includes a Bachelor's degree in Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas with professional licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Texas.

Nurse Rodríguez' excellent academic record and vast experience has allowed her following professional titles: Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist and CEO, Schnitzler Cardiovascular Consultants, San Antonio, Texas: First surgical assistant for Cardiac Catheterization, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Dilatations (PTCA), Thrombolysis Coronary Reperfusion, Valvulopolasty, Endocardial mapping, Electrophysiology studies and Cardiopulmonary Support System; Assistant in cutdown procedure/suturing and manipulation of Swan-Ganz catheters under fluoroscopy for right heart pressure parameters measurement; Assistant in preparing hemodynamic reports which include cardiac outputs by Fick and dilution dye technique, cardiac index, stroke volume, total pulmonary resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, systemic vascular resistance, and stroke volume working index; assistant in measurement of dp/dt left ventricular function per electrocardiogram, measurement of appearance time in dilution dye technique for absorption times, comparison and measurement of right pressures on control basis, post-dye injection, post-angio injection, and pullback pressures for equilibration of ventricular function during angiography; Assistant for the intra-aortic balloon pump (served as relief backup in intensive care units for 1977-81); Assistant in the preoperative and postoperative care of cardiac transplant patients; Clinical monitor for post-insertion pacemaker patients with particular attention to rate intervals, pulse duration, pulse interval measurements for pre-failure recognition, and monthly checks for pre-failure recognition; Assistant for pacemaker insertions and recordings of ventricular electrograms for pacemaker spike amplitude; Clinical monitor of exercise testing; Teacher for patient information of heart disease, including myocardial infarction, bypass, arrhythmia's, congestive heart failure, pacemakers and AICD's.