Provider brings specialized training in cardiac, vascular and minimally invasive surgical care.

FryeCare Physicians Network welcomes Patrick Colmenero, PA-C, CSFA, a board-certified physician assistant specializing in cardiothoracic surgery, to its medical team. Colmenero is now seeing patients at FryeCare Cardiothoracic Surgery, located at 415 N. Center St., Suite 204 in Hickory. Same-week appointments are available. To schedule an appointment, call 828.323.1100 or visit FryeCarePhysicians.com/find-a-doctor.

Colmenero brings more than five years of operative experience, including involvement in cardiac transplantation, endoscopic and open saphenous vein harvesting, aortic reconstruction, structural heart interventions and robotic-assisted cardiac surgery. He also holds additional training in vascular surgery. His clinical areas of specialization include cardiothoracic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, open vascular and endovascular procedures, aortic reconstruction and aneurysm repair, and coronary artery bypass grafting.

He maintains dual licensure as a Physician Assistant (PA-C) and Certified Surgical First Assistant (CFSA) and recently completed his certificate of mastery in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), expanding his capabilities in perioperative assessment and bedside diagnostics.

Colmenero earned both his Physician Assistant Studies and Surgical First Assistant Studies degrees from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, graduating magna cum laude from the CSFA program. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.

During his training, Colmenero performed thousands of operative cases, along with his physician associate clinical rotations in cardiovascular surgery, vascular surgery, general surgery, inpatient cardiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, OBGYN, pediatrics and family medicine – experiences that deepened his commitment to operative excellence, evidence-based practice and multidisciplinary collaboration.

“I am honored to join the cardiovascular surgery team at Frye Regional and value their collaborative, multidisciplinary work,” said Colmenero. “My training at the Mayo Clinic instilled in me a deep commitment to excellence in surgical care, and I look forward to serving patients in the community with compassion, precision and a team-based approach to improving outcomes.”

FryeCare Physicians Network offers preventive, diagnostic and treatment services in a compassionate environment – close to home. The network includes more than 110 experienced providers in a range of specialties, including cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, family and internal medicine, infectious disease, neurology, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonology and vascular surgery. Learn more at FryeCarePhysicians.com.

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