Penn Medicine is proud to announce the appointment of Jorge A. Marrero, MD, MS, as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Marrero is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field of advanced liver disease and transplant hepatology. He has special interest and expertise in transplant. Dr. Marrero previously was a Professor of Medicine and Chief of Hepatology and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW), where he was subsequently appointed the Willis C. Maddrey MD Distinguished Chair in Liver Disease. At UTSW, he transformed the liver transplant program into one of the leading programs in the nation.
We asked Dr. Marrero to tell us a bit about himself, his calling to medicine and his patient care philosophy.
Tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in San Antonio, Texas when my father was active in the Air Force. After his service ended, our family returned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was raised. I went to medical school there and then came to Philadelphia for an Internal Medicine residency at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. I loved Philly. After completing my residency, I did a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I then became a faculty member at the University of Michigan and started my research in the early detection of liver cancer. In 2012, I moved to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to become Chief of Hepatology and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation. We were able to take the liver transplant program from about 15 transplants per year to over 110 a year with outstanding outcomes. We also recruited an outstanding group of dedicated faculty and staff. In July 2021, I started as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at Penn. I have two sons; one is an investment banker in New York, and the other is a junior in college. My wife and I enjoy the food and arts scene in Philly and love sports.
What inspired you to study medicine?
My father is a retired gastroenterologist and was certainly an inspiration and a major influencer in my decision to go into medicine. I witnessed at a young age how he enjoyed talking to patients and his focus on addressing their medical issues. The thing that inspired me the most is the power to try to heal and improve the lives of others.
What do you like to do outside of practicing medicine?
I love playing sports, now mainly tennis. I also enjoy watching football, baseball, basketball, tennis – pretty much everything. I love to try foods from different parts of the world. I love to travel and look forward to resuming traveling after the pandemic. I have done volunteer work to increase education in STEM in Hispanic populations – there is so much untapped potential in underrepresented groups in this country.
Why did you choose to specialize in GI and Hepatology?
I love gastroenterology and liver disease because it is broad and requires significant expertise. It involves the entire intestinal tract from the esophagus to the large intestine and the liver and pancreas. Diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, liver and pancreas require specialized training for each and different medications and procedures. These broad areas of expertise make this challenging because it requires mastering endoscopic procedures as well as mastering the diseases of the organs involved in this area.
How did you get interested in transplants and what benefits does Penn's transplant program offer patients?
I got interested in liver transplantation during my gastroenterology fellowship. I was fascinated at the power of a liver transplant in transforming a person's life pretty much immediately. Penn has one of the best liver transplant programs in the world. First, the new Pavilion offers state-of-the art infrastructure for the care of such complicated patients. Second, the surgical expertise is world class. Third, the multidisciplinary care is truly outstanding with transplant surgery, hepatology, radiology, pathology, nursing, pharmacy and quality participating in a seamless manner to care for patients. Lastly, it blends the best care patient care with innovative research.
What is your philosophy on patient care?
My philosophy is that the patient is at the center of what we do. Patients and their families are the reason we aim to deliver the best, most compassionate care possible. The patient's illness drives the research activities to try to improve the life of those afflicted with diseases, and the patient is the reason we train the next generation of medical professionals.
What do you like about being a part of Penn Medicine?
I love the alignment of the health system, medical school and the university to deliver the best care, educate the next generation, and promote research that transforms the lives of patients. The goal to be the best in all aspects of the mission is palpable, infectious and invigorating.