Specialist in General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy & Digestive Motility

Dr. Juan Carlos Moreno Franco is an accomplished general surgeon and gastro-endoscopist with more than four decades of dedicated clinical, surgical, and academic experience. Renowned for his early adoption of minimally invasive techniques in Mexico, Dr. Moreno Franco combines high-complexity surgical expertise with advanced diagnostic capabilities in gastrointestinal endoscopy, esophageal motility, and microbiome research.

Executive Profile

Dr. Moreno Franco earned his medical degree in 1978 from the Universidad del Noreste School of Medicine in Tampico, Tamaulipas. Following his undergraduate medical training, he completed his clinical internship at the ISSSTE Hospital Dr. Baudelio Villanueva in Reynosa (1978–1979) and fulfilled his mandatory social service with the Secretaría de Salud (SSA) in Campeche (1979–1980). He then completed a five-year surgical residency at the prestigious Hospital Central Norte PEMEX in Mexico City, graduating as a Board-Certified General Surgeon in 1985.

Throughout the 1990s, Dr. Moreno Franco positioned himself at the forefront of minimally invasive surgery through rigorous international training. Beginning in 1993, he collaborated closely with laparoscopic pioneer Dr. Morris Franklin Jr. at Southeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Over an intensive five-year mentorship, he refined advanced techniques in laparoscopic cholecystectomies, common bile duct explorations, hiatal hernia repairs, and diagnostic laparoscopies, while simultaneously expanding his endoscopy practice under Dr. Richard Otero.

A pioneer in bariatric and abdominal wall reconstruction, Dr. Moreno Franco was among the early surgeons to perform laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding across Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Mexico City (1993–2000), further formalizing his technique in Lyon, France (1998). He also pioneered the laparoscopic placement of biocomposite meshes for complex, recurrent incisional hernias in Mexico. In 1999, he organized and coordinated the landmark "Experts in Reflux" symposium at Hospital San Javier in Guadalajara, convening international authorities to perform and compare cutting-edge antireflux techniques (including the Nissen, Toupet, Hill, Belsey Mark IV, and French methods).

Expanding his diagnostic portfolio to functional digestive disorders, Dr. Moreno Franco completed advanced post-graduate fellowship training in Endoscopy (2004–2005) and Esophageal Motility / pH Monitoring (2007–2008) in Mexico City. Since 2005, he has served as a staff Gastro-Endoscopist at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Committed to lifelong education, his ongoing clinical focus integrates advanced diagnostic endoscopy, reflux management, and emerging translational science in the gut microbiota.

Chronological Curriculum Overview

Medical Education & Surgical Residency

• 1978: Doctor of Medicine (Médico Cirujano) — Universidad del Noreste, Tampico, Tamaulipas.

• 1978–1979: Clinical Medical Internship — ISSSTE Hospital Dr. Baudelio Villanueva, Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

• 1979–1980: Social Service — Secretaría de Salud (SSA), Campeche, Mexico.

• 1980–1985: General Surgery Residency — Hospital Central Norte PEMEX, Mexico City.

• 1985: Graduation & Board Certification in General Surgery.

Advanced Fellowship & Specialized Training

• 1993–1998: Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Mentorship & Training — Southeast Baptist Hospital, San Antonio, Texas (under Dr. Morris Franklin Jr. & Dr. Richard Otero).

• 1998: Advanced Gastric Banding & Bariatric Training — Lyon, France.

• 1998: Specialized Surgical Training — Hôpital Privé Bois-Bernard (Arras) & Hôpital Val-Redon (Marseille), France.

• 2004–2005: Clinical Fellowship in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy — Mexico City.

• 2007–2008: Specialization in Esophageal & Intestinal Motility (pH Monitoring & High-Resolution Manometry) — Mexico City.

• Present: Ongoing advanced studies in Gut Microbiota and microbiome-targeted therapeutics.

Surgical Milestones & Leadership

• 1993–2000: Early adopter and surgeon for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in Mexico (Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City).

• Pioneer: Advanced laparoscopic placement of biocomposite meshes for recurrent incisional abdominal wall hernias.

• 1999: Director & General Coordinator, "Experts in Reflux" Surgical Symposium, Hospital San Javier (Guadalajara, Mexico).

• Frequent Keynote Speaker & Author: Presenter of surgical research and clinical series at national and international surgical congresses.

Institutional & Hospital Appointments

• 2005–Present: Specialist Gastro-Endoscopist — Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

• Private Practice: General Surgery, Advanced Gastro-Endoscopy, and Motility Laboratory consultations.