Dr. Rivera is a fellowship trained pediatric cardiologist, holding current board certifications in both Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatrics.

Dr. Rivera has been practicing pediatric cardiology in New Jersey since completing her Fellowship at Schneider Children's Hospital in New York in 1990. She holds the distinction of winning the Stephen Auster Fellowship award two consecutive years: in 1988 and 1989.

During her fellowship at Schneider Children’s Hospital, Dr. Rivera focused on the then new and ground breaking technique of diagnosing heart disease in utero, called Fetal Echocardiography. Bringing this technology to Monmouth and Ocean counties over 20 years ago, Dr. Rivera provided more options to pregnant mothers-to-be and their doctors, at as early as 18 weeks gestation.

In 1999, Dr. Rivera opened Monmouth-Ocean Children's Heart Center. Working closely with the Pediatric Cardiothoracic programs at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Dr. Rivera was able to provide complete diagnostic, treatment, and follow up, as well as long-term management programs, for the rapidly growing pediatric cardiology population and their families.

The American Heart Association recognized Dr. Rivera's accomplishments and contributions in 2005 with the presentation of the Leadership Award in Cardiovascular Medicine. Dr. Rivera remains the only pediatric cardiologist to be so honored.

Dr. Rivera founded Monmouth-Ocean Children's Heart Center (MOCHC) on the principle that every child she sees in her practice brings a unique set of circumstances to explore and consider when diagnosing murmurs, arrhythmias, and other signs and symptoms of complex congenital heart disease.

Monmouth-Ocean Children's Heart Center received certification through the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) in 2014. Dr. Rivera's skills in echocardiography and fetal echo have earned MOCHC recognition as the only facility in Monmouth and Ocean counties to be certified in both fields.