
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Adults
- Adults 65 and up
Languages
- English
Gender
FemaleAbout Karla Jeannette Cruz Morel
Karla J. Cruz Morel, MD, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension, a condition marked by high blood pressure in the heart to lung circulation. She serves as Director of the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program at the Heart & Vascular Institute at Prisma Health in Columbia, South Carolina, where she works with a multidisciplinary team to deliver coordinated care for patients with pulmonary vascular disease. Her work focuses on early diagnosis, detailed evaluation and long-term care for patients with complex pulmonary vascular disease. Dr. Cruz also cares for patients with pulmonary embolism and complications from blood clots in the lungs through the Post-Pulmonary Embolism Clinic.
Her dedication to pulmonary vascular medicine grew from a strong curiosity about complex physiology and the interaction of disease across organ systems. Pulmonary hypertension often sits at the intersection of multiple specialties such as pulmonary medicine, cardiology and rheumatology. Understanding how these systems interact helps reach an accurate diagnosis and guide treatment decisions.
Dr. Cruz has a strong clinical focus on the relationship between the heart and the lung circulation. She performs right heart catheterization to measure pressures within the heart to lung circulation. She also has an interest in advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing to evaluate unexplained shortness of breath. She finds that improving quality of life and outcomes for patients with pulmonary hypertension gives her work meaning every day.
Dr. Cruz earned her medical degree from Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) in the Dominican Republic, followed by residency in internal medicine at Drexel University and St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She then completed fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey, and advanced fellowship training in pulmonary vascular disease at Stanford University in Stanford, California. Dr. Cruz holds board certification in internal medicine and pulmonary and critical care medicine.
In The News
Video
Locations
- Prisma Health Cardiology – 8 Med Park 100
- 8 Richland Medical Park Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, SC 29203
- Get Directions
- phone: 803-434-3800
- fax: 803-933-3020
- Prisma Health Cardiology – Sumter
- 100 North Sumter Street, Suite 202, Sumter, SC 29150
- Get Directions
- phone: 803-434-3800
- fax: 803-933-3012
Expertise
Education
- Residency: St. Peters University Hospital, Internal Medicine
- Medical School: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo
- Fellowship: Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
- Fellowship: Stanford University Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Pulmonary Disease: American Board of Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine
Insurance
- Absolute Total Care - Ambetter
- Absolute Total Care (Centene)
- Aetna
- Aetna Medicare
- Allwell Medicare - Absolute Total Care
- BCBS
- BCBS Blue Essentials
- BCBS PPC
- BCBSSC Blue Reedy Exchange Product (Upstate)
- BCBSSC State Health Plan (PEBA)
- BlueChoice Health Plan
- BlueChoice Medicaid - Healthy Blue
- BlueChoiceMyChoice Advantage
- Carelon Behavioral Health
- Cigna
- Cigna Medicare
- Companion Benefit Alternatives
- CorVel Workers Compensation
- Evernorth Behavioral Health
- FirstHealth (Aetna)
- Healthy Connections
- Humana - Healthy Horizons
- Humana Choice Care
- Humana Medicare
- Liberty Advantage
- Logistics Health
- Magellan
- MedCost
- Medicare (Traditional Fee-for-Service)
- Molina
- Molina Medicaid
- Multiplan/PHCS
- NHC Advantage
- Optum Behavioral Health
- Promise Health Plan
- SC Medicaid Healthy Connections
- Select Health Medicare
- Select Heath (First Choice)
- Spectera
- TriCare
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network - VACCN
- Wellcare (Centene)
Ratings & Reviews
4.8 out of 5
239 ratings, 34 reviewsThe Patient Satisfaction Rating is derived from patient surveys based on the likelihood to recommend this provider’s office.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/4/2026
The fast response of all.
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/1/2026
Dr Cruz is extremely soft spoken. Sometimes it was very difficult for me to understand her entire sentence...especially if I miss a couple words Listening to her very intently is not easy to do. Dr Cruz is very knowledgeable and knows her profession well. Keeping her statements or explanations all together is not easy to do. I know I did not understand everything she said. I was hoping my husband, who was in the room did, but he also had a lot of difficulty hearing and following her. The after appointment notes, I can access in MyChart, have to be /must be very detailed for me to put it all together and understand all she said. Thank you.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/1/2026
I was happy with the whole visit, I can't think of anything that needed to be voiced that wasn't!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/2/2026
There's nothing as l could see to improve the support and trust that you have already done. Everything and everyone was wonderful. Thank you.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/31/2026
The way to offer support is to clone Dr. Karla Cruz Morel. That's impossible. I trust her with the recommendation that she made for me. She will dearly be missed.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/26/2026
Keep up the good work
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/16/2026
Timely visit
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/12/2026
You could do whatever is necessary to keep Dr. Cruz from leaving Prisma. If she does leave, it will be a terrible loss.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/16/2026
Continuity between physician and patient would help build trust
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/9/2026
Good morning! Thank you for the questions. my visit was very pleasant. The entire team was very cordial and professional. The nurse was careful in with me as I am an old senior. She was friendly in conversation with me. She introduced herself and explained her task. She did her medical and safe hand cleaning. Upon finishing, she stated my doctor would be in shortly and continue my service. Certainly, Dr. Karla Cruz Morel entered with a beautiful glowing smile and greeted me. She always did this as I visited for appointments. I was questioned about myself and personal feelings as I continued to take my medicines. She was pleased with present results. Dr. Cruz explained data and research gathered since I began with her as a patient in the area of PAH which I have. She shared improvements and talked about surgery which could improve my quality of life as I go forward. I thanked her for the update. I concluded, that I would remain with the meds I am on presently and give thought to updated research. We talked about a few things that would give us a lasting grin and smile as we departed to continue our separate journeys in the future. With all of that being said, my comment would be absolutely nothing in your process of caring ,but curing patient illnesses of winter colds and allergies that just come and go and grow during the season of winter.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/22/2025
No complaints I Love Dr Cruz she's the best. I'm very say that she's leaving.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/22/2025
Everything was fine.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/14/2025
GREAT
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/6/2025
I wish that I had known prior to my appointment with Dr. Cruz that she was going to be leaving the practice Even though I just officially changed over my records & total pulmonologist care from where I moved to this practice, Dr. Cruz has been a present doctor of mine over the past years ever since I had a severe operation at Prisma Parkridge, Rehabilitation at Encompass, & convalecsing at home. She is referring me to one of her colleagues who I pray I'll click with as will as I did Dr. Cruz.
- 2 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/5/2025
I wish when I made the appointment they would have told me Dr Cruz was leaving. I would have asked for a different doctor or gone somewhere else. She really didn't seen interested in my health just apologizing for leaving.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/4/2025
None, my visit was perfect
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/25/2025
You can help Dr. Cruz stay, I was real impressed with her!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/13/2025
Honestly not a thing the minute we walk into the office everyone was very friendly and polite and Dr. Cruz is the up most best doctor I know. So very grateful for her and her staff
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/8/2025
10/10
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/6/2025
Great staff and doctor was excellent! Respiratory therapist so patient with mom's breathing test! Really appreciate how she treated mom.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/31/2025
My provider was very kind & respectful
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/11/2025
Dr Cruz and her staff are amazing and very knowledgeable. They continue to earn my trust with each interaction.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/30/2025
Wait time to see the doctor was longer than I expected.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/23/2025
Staff was very polite, knowledgeable and helpful!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/22/2025
Everything was perfect. Dr Cruz and her staff are the best
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/26/2025
Actually, I can't think of anything else they could have done for my care. Dr.Cruz truly cares about her patients, weather in a physical form or mental form. I would tell anyone that needs this type of care, to come there. I love and appreciate your practice and Dr.Cruz
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/15/2025
Had good visit . No changes needed
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/29/2025
Without doubt, this was the most thorough visit that I have had. Dr. Cruz gets an A++
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/27/2025
I have been a patient of doctor Cruz for over two years and have been totally satisfied with treatment that she has recommended for my condition as it has progressed the support staff have always been very helpful and attentive as well.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/26/2025
Everything was great!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/24/2025
I have a been a patient for almost two and a half years with Dr. Cruz and staff and have very pleased with the treatment and care I received
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/18/2025
Continue with program the way it is
- 4 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/24/2025
There is nothing I can say to improve trust and support cause really this is my first visit with this Doctor.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2025
Dr. Cruz and her staff have always provided stellar services.