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Rooted in Purpose, Driven by Growth: Elizabeth Huenfeldt, NP Shares Her Journey in Electrophysiology Care

A passion for medicine that started early

Growing up in a small town in west-central Missouri, Elizabeth knew early on that medicine was her calling. In fact, she couldn’t recall ever wanting to pursue any other path. That passion led her to nursing school at St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Lafayette, Indiana.

While in school, she worked as both a pharmacy technician and a patient care technician in the Emergency Departments at Home Hospital and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. These formative experiences provided a strong clinical foundation that would support her throughout nursing school and into her early career.

Gaining critical experience in trauma care

After graduation, Elizabeth’s first nursing position was as a trauma nurse at a Level II trauma center in Quincy, Illinois, where she worked for five years. Just two years into her role, she decided to pursue a master’s degree and was accepted into Georgetown University’s accelerated program.

She balanced part-time work and family life—her oldest child started kindergarten on the same day she started classes. Despite the intensity, she appreciated the challenge and valued the ability to complete the program in nearly half the time of traditional options.

Entering cardiology and finding a professional home in the ACC

After earning her Master’s, Elizabeth joined a busy cardiology practice that included general cardiologists, interventionalists, and an electrophysiologist. It was through her collaboration with Dr. Gabriel E. Soto, an electrophysiologist, that she became involved with the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

From the beginning, she was impressed by the ACC’s inclusivity, particularly its welcoming attitude toward advanced practice providers. She went on to serve on the Missouri ACC Scientific Session Planning Committee and was invited to speak at a Scientific Session, a professional milestone she greatly values.

Thriving in electrophysiology at Missouri Baptist

Today, Elizabeth works in a high-volume electrophysiology (EP) practice at Missouri Baptist with BJC Medical Group. The team includes three electrophysiologists and three EP nurse practitioners. Her responsibilities include inpatient rounding and outpatient care, allowing her to maintain continuity of care with her patients across settings.

What drives her most is patient education. She is passionate about helping patients understand their diagnoses, medications, and treatment options—believing that education reduces anxiety and improves outcomes.

Creating impact: The Heart Tracks transitional care program

One of Elizabeth’s proudest accomplishments is co-developing a transitional care pathway known as Heart Tracks. Designed to improve follow-up for patients with cardiac complaints who presented to the ER, the program helped bridge the gap between emergency and outpatient care.

Working alongside Dr. Soto, she was involved from the program’s inception and saw nearly every Heart Tracks patient during her time in the role. She believes the program had a significant impact in guiding patients through the healthcare system and getting them the right care, at the right time.

Advice for aspiring EP nurse practitioners

For nurses looking to specialize in electrophysiology, Elizabeth stresses the importance of building a strong foundation:

This progression, she believes, ensures deeper clinical knowledge, confidence, and ultimately, better patient care.

This article was developed by Vrinda Trivedi, MD FACC. Vrinda is a faculty at the University of Missouri Columbia and the Editor of MO ACC Connect.