Jorge Moreno, MD

Jorge Moreno, MD, is an internal medicine physician who is also board certified in obesity medicine. Dr. Moreno helps patients navigate weight loss options, including lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.

Growing up, Dr. Moreno often served as a translator for his Spanish-speaking parents at medical appointments. “I always knew I wanted to be a physician because I wanted to give back to the community as a Spanish-speaking provider,” Dr. Moreno says. “I knew primary care would be the best place to use my clinical skills, communicate directly with my Spanish-speaking patients, and more importantly, be aware of the cultural differences of the Latinx community.”

Later on, Dr. Moreno became interested in the topics of nutrition, exercise, and weight-management strategies. He is now working on integrating a clinic in his practice at Yale Internal Medicine Associates (YIMA) focused on assisting patients achieve weight loss. Working with patients with obesity requires being sensitive to their needs and concerns, Dr. Moreno says.

“You want to be nonjudgmental and tailor your approach to their lifestyle,” he says. “There may be many factors, including culture-specific ones, that affect your recommendations. I try to take a holistic approach. There are often multiple components to why they are struggling.”

The best part of his job, Dr. Moreno says, are the relationships he has built with patients. “I develop close bonds with them. In primary care, you get to work with them through various stages of illness and health. They also look out for me,” says Dr. Moreno, adding that at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, patients would leave him messages each day, wishing he stayed in good health. “That was so appreciated.”