Meet Dr. Maria Dorotan Guevara, Pediatric Cardiologist

Atrium Health Levine Children’s HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center | Medical Advisor to Make-A-Wish Central & Western NC 

Meet Dr. Dorotan Guevara, a pediatric cardiologist at the Atrium Health Levine Children’s HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center. She works as a pediatric cardiologist because she finds kids living with heart conditions to be uniquely inspiring. She reflects that “I love the resilience and hope they offer. It brings me joy to take care of children, and they give a whole lot of perspective that we adults often forget.” She jokes, “I think heart kids are special, but I’m biased.” 

Make-A-Wish Central & Western North Carolina works closely with pediatric healthcare professionals to generate wish referrals and ensure safety during wishes. Dr. Dorotan Guevara, who joined the Medical Advisory Council in 2025, says she thinks of her work on the council “as part of my personal advocacy for the patients I take care of.” It’s a chance for her to support her patients outside of the clinical setting, and an opportunity to share a piece of hope amidst a difficult journey. “As people who care for kids when they’re sick, it’s nice to be able to offer them a wish,” she says. 

Kids with heart conditions often require long-term care. Wishes shine a ray of hope during hard times that can include surgeries, physical exhaustion, doctor’s visits, and waiting for transplants. “I think it’s quite special for families to spend a little time outside of their daily grind and have a vacation,” Dr. Dorotan Guevara says. Many of her patients don’t realize they’re eligible for a wish, so it’s important to her to let them know that Make-A-Wish is for kids with heart conditions, too.  

Dr. Dorotan Guevara has seen first-hand the benefits of a wish: patients who smile and laugh when they show her photos from their wish, or parents who remember their child’s wish as a special memory together before they passed. “I think those little bits of hope and joy go a long way,” she reflects. We are so thankful for all our medical advisors like Dr. Dorotan Guevara, who advocate for their patients, include wishes as part of their treatment plans, and steadfastly believe in the strength of their patients.