Pulmonologist joins AdventHealth Waterman

AdventHealth Medical Group welcomes Dr. Alba Rivera-Díaz to the pulmonary team at AdventHealth Waterman, strengthening a collaborative group of pulmonologists caring for Lake County.

She will care for lung conditions including asthma, lung scarring disorders, and small growths called nodules. Her focus is on precise testing, clear explanations, and coordinated care with primary care, chest surgery, cancer care, and sleep medicine. Visits are available in Spanish and English.

“We are excited to add Dr. Rivera-Díaz to our team of pulmonologists,” said Brandon Nudd, AdventHealth Waterman president and CEO. “Her expertise in advanced bronchoscopy and her patient-first approach strengthen our multidisciplinary lung care, helping neighbors find answers and get back to what matters most right here in Lake County.”

Rivera-Díaz brings focused training in advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and completed her pulmonary and critical care fellowship at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan. She is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, and critical care medicine.

Earlier in her career, she trained as a dietitian-nutritionist, experience she now uses to connect daily habits with lung health.

“My mission is to improve the quality of life for patients with various pulmonary conditions by providing compassionate, evidence-based care and empowering them to live their fullest lives,” said Rivera-Díaz. “I collaborate with primary care teams to deliver less-invasive diagnostics and practical plans, informed by my training and experience. I look forward to caring for Lake County alongside AdventHealth Medical Group.”

Her scholarly work includes national presentations with the American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from disaster-era ICU outcomes to sepsis care and difficult-to-treat asthma. She also co-authored a book chapter on environmental and occupational factors in asthma.

Beyond the clinic, Rivera-Díaz has organized community campaigns supporting families after earthquakes in southern Puerto Rico and helped lead food and toy drives serving people experiencing homelessness and underserved children.

AdventHealth Medical Group, the network of nearly 450 physicians and advanced practice providers across Flagler, Lake, Sumter, and Volusia counties and representing about 30 specialties, cared for more than one million patient visits in 2024. Over the past year, nearly 120 physicians and advanced practitioners joined the division, including nearly 20 in Lake County to support AdventHealth Waterman.

Rivera-Díaz is now accepting new patients at AdventHealth Medical Group Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Tavares. To reach her office, call Call352-742-4447.

AdventHealth Newsroom