Mario Morales, MD

Meet Dr. Mario Morales, medical director and weight-loss surgeon for SSM Health Weight Management Services. His holistic approach to patient care ensures the best treatment for each individual patient. Dr. Morales and his team offer continuous support and encouragement for patients every step of their weight loss journey.

Dr. Mario P. Morales is a board-certified general surgeon who has additional laparoscopic certification. A graduate of the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Morales completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Missouri-Columbia. During his residency, he performed hundreds of bariatric surgeries and procedures under the direction of Dr. Roger de la Torre. He recently completed a fellowship in bariatric/minimally invasive surgery with the SSM Health Weight Management Services at SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis where he assisted Drs. Stephen Scott and Roger de la Torre in more than 200 cases. Dr. Morales regularly performs Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery, which is the fast recovery care standard in weight-loss surgery.

As a mechanical engineer, Dr. Morales has contributed to the design of disposable laparoscopic devices and thorascopic instruments. As a program leader for Computer Motion Incorporated’s laparoscopic New Product introduction group, he was responsible for all facets of the design and manufacture of disposable mechanical devices that interact with the ZEUS™ surgical robot.

Dr. Morales has written a wide range of publications, from peer-reviewed journals to chapters in surgery textbooks. He has also been a guest lecturer at the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery National Meeting.