Vilma Torres, MD, FACC, FHR

My name is Dr. Vilma I. Torres. I am board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. I am also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society.

At 12 years old, I watched my mother’s struggles as a heart patient and knew I wanted to be a physician so I could help her and many others like her. I went on to earn my medical degree at the age of 23 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and then moved out west, where I completed an internship and medical residency at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. I followed this with a fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Upon completion of my training, I developed the cardiac electrophysiology program at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in 1985. Subsequently, I became associate professor at Brown University School of Medicine and co-director of the electrophysiology program. I was the first woman electrophysiologist in the state of Rhode Island. I have also practiced as a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University and as a full-time electrophysiologist at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

During my long academic career, I have participated in various national committees. I was elected as the Southern California Inland Empire president of the American Heart Association, as well as Inland Empire Cardiologist of the Year. I was also a member of the Western States Board of Directors for the American Heart Association. I am a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and currently serve in the University of Florida chapter selection committee.

I have been involved in various committees at the academic institutions I have worked at, including quality improvement and academic faculty council, and have mentored many young women who are hoping to pursue a career in medicine or who are already training in internal medicine or cardiology. I am currently an elected representative for the faculty senate in the UF College of Medicine.

My areas of interest include heart failure device management, or CRT therapy, and atrial fibrillation management. I have several clinical trials involving rhythm devices and an National Institutes of Health-sponsored trial for heart failure devices called FACT – CRT.

In addition to my academic accomplishments, I have had the privilege of being married to my husband for 44 years and have raised two wonderful, accomplished young women. I have also had the opportunity to grow and learn from my extensive travel experiences and adventures. I enjoy snow and water skiing as well as scuba diving. I am bilingual and can read, speak and write proficiently in the Spanish language.