In 1961, at the age of 13, Dr. Jorge Leal migrated to Miami, Florida with his 14-year-old sister. Their parents were not allowed to migrate with them because of the Cuban regime. Dr. Leal remained in Florida thanks to organizations like the Operation Peter Pan project, the Catholic Welfare foster homes and camps that provided food, shelter and educational opportunities for thousands of Cuban refugee children like Dr. Leal and his sister.

Among other places, Dr. Leal stayed in Camp Metecumbe in Miami and in the remnants of the World War II era barracks in OpaLocka airport while attending school, washing dishes and delivering newspapers for extra money. It wasn’t until 1966, at the age of 18, during his senior year of high school that he was reunited with his parents in Miami.
After high school, Dr. Leal joined a Jesuit seminary where he decided that medicine would be his profession. Through academic scholarships, student loans and various work programs he was able to graduate with honors from the University of Miami in 1970. He then entered medical school at the University of Florida, graduating in 1974. Dr. Leal continued there for his surgical residency and finished as chief resident in urology in 1979.

Married and with two children, Dr. Leal began his medical practice in Merritt Island and Wuesthoff Hospital where he continues today. During this time he has served three terms as chief of staff, headed many hospital committees and is presently chief of robotic surgery. Due to his expertise in new surgical techniques in the treatment of cancers and urinary stones, Dr. Leal has been invited to present on these topics and results in medical meetings throughout the United States and abroad.

Dr. Leal particularly enjoyed attending the University of Florida for over 20 years, teaching young residents surgical techniques for urological malignancies and other maladies as assistant professor. Above all, he hoped to impart that a professional reputation is a sacred endeavor that must be cultivated daily in the healing of patients.

 

 

Jorge J Leal, MD, Urologist
Wuesthoff Health System
825 N. Courtenay Pkwy.
Merritt Island, FL 32953
(321) 452-2563