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Mariela Rivera, M.D.

  1. Acute Care Surgeon
  2. General Surgeon
  3. Surgeon
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Departments

Specialty Groups

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Existing patients

Appointments

Dr. Mariela Rivera is a Trauma and Critical Care General Surgeon with a specialized interest in enterocutaneous fistula surgery. Her clinical focus includes:

  • Expertise in the management of enterocutaneous and intra-abdominal fistula connections.
  • Surgical critical care.
  • Surgical education.

"The interests of the patients come first." Dr. Rivera embodies this value in her practice, ensuring it guides her surgical recommendations. Since joining the Mayo Clinic faculty in 2011, she has thrived in a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with world-renowned specialists. She believes that every patient interaction is both a privilege and an honor.

In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Rivera serves as the Program Director for the General Surgery Residency. Her primary research interests center on surgical simulation and adult surgical education.

  1. Trauma care
  • Trauma surgery
  • Surgical critical care
  • General surgery
  1. 2011
    Fellow - Surgical Critical CareMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  2. 2010
    ResidentUniversity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, University Hospital
  3. 2004
    InternshipSan Juan City Hospital
  4. 2003
    MDUniversity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
  5. 1999
    BSUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Certifications

  1. 2013
    Surgical Critical CareAmerican Board of Surgery
  2. 2012
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2021
    Mayo Clinic Outstanding Emerging Educator Award for 2021Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
  2. 2018
    Diversity Champion Award Diversity and Inclusion Award
  3. 2018
    Teacher of the Year Award 2018General Surgery Residency Program, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education
  4. 2006
    Prize to Best Research/Basic ScienceF.L. Raffucci Surgical Forum Awards
  5. 2003
    Graduated Cum LaudeUniversity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, University Hospital
  6. 2003
    Prize to Best Research/Clinical ScienceF.L. Raffucci Surgical Forum Awards
  7. 1999
    Graduated Magna Cum LaudeUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
  8. 1996
    Dean's ListUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras

Professional memberships

  1. 2026 - present
    MemberMCSGME Appeal Committee
  2. 2025
    Reviewer2026 CCRC Small Research Grant Program
  3. 2025 - present
    MemberAssociation for Surgical Education Faculty Development Committee
  4. 2025 - present
    ChairAssociation of Program Directors in Surgery Wellness Committee
  5. 2025 - present
    MemberAcademy of Educational Excellence - Peer Observation Program Planning
  6. 2025 - 2030
    Associated MemberAmerican College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators
  7. 2025 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Academy of Educational Excellence Advisory Committee
  8. 2025
    Panel DiscussantClinical Investigator Program, Mayo Clinic Committees
  9. 2025 - present
    MemberExecutive Committee, Priestly Society
  10. 2025 - present
    FacultyClinician Educator Pathway, Graduate Medical Education
  11. 2024 - present
    Applicant ReviewerMCSGME Health Care Disparities Nomination Committee
  12. 2024 - 2026
    ScholarMayo StARR Internal Advisory Committee
  13. 2024 - present
    Surgical DirectorPriestley Society Executive Committee
  14. 2024 - present
    Sponsor/Mentor International Association of Student Surgical Societies (IASSS)
  15. 2024 - present
    MemberSurgery Residency Review Committee, ACGME; Surgery Residency Review Committee
  16. 2023 - 2024
    MemberClinician Educator Pathway, Graduate Medical Education
  17. 2023 - 2025
    MemberAssociation of Program Directors in Surgery
  18. 2023 - present
    Member/Program DirectorAssociation of Program Directors in Surgery
  19. 2023 - present
    MemberThe Association for Surgical Education
  20. 2023 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine
  21. 2023 - present
    ChairClinical Competency Committee, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship; Clinical Competency Committee
  22. 2023 - present
    MemberAmerican Medical Association
  23. 2022 - 2025
    Member of the Review Committee of the ACS Program for the Accreditation of Education InstitutesAmerican College of Surgeons
  24. 2022 - present
    Faculty SponsorLatino Medical Student Association
  25. 2021 - 2022
    MemberUniversity of De Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus Special External Review Committee
  26. 2021 - 2022
    MemberPOCUS Workgroup, Mayo Clinic Enterprise
  27. 2021 - present
    MemberMayo Employee Resource Group, Somos Latinos
  28. 2021 - present
    FellowInternational College of Surgeons
  29. 2021 - present
    MemberDepartment of Surgery Education Committee
  30. 2020 - present
    MemberDepartment of Surgery Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee
  31. 2020 - 2024
    MemberCommittee for Dissemination of Educa- tional Resources for the AEIs, American College of Surgeons
  32. 2020 - present
    MemberAmerican College of Surgeons - Accrediated Education Institutes
  33. 2019 - 2024
    MemberSimulation Based Research Committee
  34. 2019 - present
    MemberSimulation Center Executive Committee
  35. 2019 - present
    Course DirectorMedical Physics Certification Program
  36. 2019 - present
    MemberMedical Physics Certification Program Steering Committee
  37. 2019 - present
    MemberAssociation of Program Directors in Surgery
  38. 2019 - present
    MemberSurgery & Surgical Specialties Graduate Education Committee, Department of Education Administration
  39. 2018 - present
    MemberGeneral Surgery Residency Program Clinical Competency Committee
  40. 2018 - 2021
    Vice ChairCritical Care IMP Education Subcommittee, Critical Care Independent Multidisciplinary Program
  41. 2018 - present
    MemberGreater Leadership of Women (GLOW) MERG
  42. 2017 - 2021
    MemberRochester Diversity and Inclusion Committee
  43. 2017 - present
    MemberPriestly Society
  44. 2017 - 2022
    ChairProgram Evaluation Committee, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship; Program Evaluation Committee
  45. 2016 - 2021
    Co-ChairMayo Employee Resource Group, Somos Latinos
  46. 2016 - 2017
    MemberCLABSI Line Selection & Ordering Workgroup
  47. 2016 - 2022
    Abstract ReviewerSociety of Critical Care Medicine
  48. 2016 - 2021
    AdvisorMayo Medical School Critical Care Interest Group
  49. 2016 - 2018
    MemberOrgan Tissue Eye Donation, Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees
  50. 2016 - 2018
    MemberCritical Care IMP Education Subcommittee, Critical Care Independent Multidisciplinary Program
  51. 2016 - 2018
    MemberMayo Midwest Ethics Committee
  52. 2015 - 2021
    LiaisonTrauma Subcommittee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  53. 2015 - present
    MemberMinnesota Surgical Society
  54. 2015 - present
    FellowAmerican College of Surgeons
  55. 2015 - present
    Alumni MemberSociedad Medicos Graduados Escuela de Medicina de Puerto Rico
  56. 2014 - 2017
    MemberPost Graduate and Fellowship Education Commitee, Society of Critical Care Medicine
  57. 2013 - 2022
    MemberClinical Competency Committee, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship; Clinical Competency Committee
  58. 2013 - 2017
    MemberProgram Evaluation Committee, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship; Program Evaluation Committee
  59. 2013 - present
    MemberProgram Evaluation Committee, General Surgery Residency Program; Program Evaluation Committee
  60. 2013 - 2022
    MemberTrauma/Critical Care/General Surgery ICU Executive Committee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  61. 2013 - 2021
    ChairTrauma/Critical Care/General Surgery Performance Improvement Group, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  62. 2013 - present
    MemberGeneral Surgery Residency Committee, Department of Surgery
  63. 2012 - 2022
    MemberTrauma/Critical Care/General Surgery Clinical Practice Committee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  64. 2011 - 2020
    LiaisonTrauma/Critical Care/General Surgery Clinical Practice Committee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  65. 2011 - 2019
    MemberEastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
  66. 2011 - 2013
    MemberSpinal Cord Injury Subcommittee, Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
  67. 2010 - present
    MemberTrauma Performance Improvement Committee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  68. 2010 - present
    MemberPediatric Trauma Performance Improvement Committee, Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  69. 2010 - 2022
    MemberSociety of Critical Care Medicine
  70. 2010 - present
    MemberMayo Clinic Alumni Association
  71. 2007 - 2012
    MemberAssociation of Women Surgeons
  72. 2007 - 2009
    MemberAmerican Association for Cancer Research
  73. 2007 - present
    MemberAmerican College of Surgeons
  74. 1999 - 2004
    MemberAmerican Medical Student Association
  75. 1999 - present
    MemberGolden Key International Honour Society
  76. 1997 - 1999
    MemberAmerican Chemistry Association

Publications