Conviva Care Center’s Dr. Laura Verde is Passionate about Caring for Seniors
By Carol Newman
The passion to care for others was always there. Laura Verde recalls that as far back as age 3, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, the answer was always the same: “I want to be a doctor.”
A native of Brazil, Dr. Verde went directly from high school to medical school at 17 years old. She practiced general medicine care in Brazil and, during that time, applied to cardiology programs. At 26 she moved to the United States, retook qualification exams for internal medicine residency and was offered the chief resident position at East Carolina University (ECU).
Following her training, she took a job with Asheville Cardiology in North Carolina. ECU—now known as the East Carolina University Health System—recruited Dr. Verde to come back to their practice. She became a member of the Conviva Care Center family in July 2023, and is now part of a team that provides personalized care for seniors at Conviva Care Centers throughout Florida.
The specialist’s keen interest and fascination with the intricate workings of the heart drove her to pursue a cardiology specialty. It is among the most intriguing of all specialties, she said.
At Conviva she sees patients with histories of coronary disease, heart attacks, stent implants, bypasses and heart failure. Many live in senior communities, and because of their condition(s), become frustrated by the inability to take part in various social activities.
“We give them the best care we can, so they can continue to be with their friends and enjoy those activities,” Dr. Verde said. “If they are limited by their coronary disease or heart failure, we can help them actively manage those conditions.”
Additionally, Dr. Verde advises all her patients to maintain a good diet, exercise, and nurture relationships with friends, family, and community.
She said working with seniors was a unique and interesting transition. As an invasive cardiologist, she’s performed numerous heart catheterizations in both hospital and outpatient settings—caring mainly for a general adult population. But the senior population is a lesson in experience, wisdom and learning. As a lover of history, her favorite patients are from the Greatest Generation—especially veterans of World War II. She enjoys talking with them as they recall their life experiences—both good and bad.
“There is so much to learn from them,” she said.
Dr. Verde has been in the health care profession for 27 years, and her most memorable experience was a story from a WWII veteran.
“He lied to enlist in the Navy at the age of 16, and his ship was sunk in the South Pacific,” she said. “He lost the tips of two fingers and spent two days and nights in a small air pocket. On the second night, a shipmate screamed for his mother, and after all these years, he still hears the voice of that sailor at night. I’m the only one he’s shared that story with besides his immediate family.”
Developing those types of relationships is important, and each day Dr. Verde takes the meaning of “personalized” healthcare to another level.
“Taking time to listen and not treat them as just another patient is essential,” she said. “We treat medical conditions, but for many patients just talking to someone is a social highlight, and it’s good to be a part of that dynamic.”
Dr. Verde chose to work for Conviva, because it affords her more time to know and understand patient needs. This sensitive and thoughtful interaction leads to developing strong, trusting relationships.
“I also love working with my peers, because they are not just outstanding doctors but really good people,” she said. “They, and the support staff, made me feel like I was a part of the family from day one.”
She is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography. Two years in a row, she was named Cardiology Resident of the Year at East Carolina University.
Dr. Verde says that medicine is not a profession, but a calling. One she’s answered by dedicating her life to patient care.
“The satisfaction of caring for others outweighs the hard work, and I feel like being a doctor is the best profession in the world.”
