A doctor’s story: rooted in heritage, driven by compassion

ORLANDO, Fla. - From the ER hallways at AdventHealth Celebration to the backroads of Australia, Dr. Ernesto Cortés-Belén is dedicated to providing the whole person care experience to all those he meets, thanks to his contagious energy and culture-driven mission.

Cortés-Belén was raised in the vibrant town of Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, where the island’s rich culture helped shape the person he would become. He grew up watching his mother, an ER nurse, providing care in a unique way that captivated him and inspired him to pursue a career in medicine.

“My health care mission is an extension of how I was raised,” he said. “The joy and fulfillment that she had from taking care of others slowly found its way to me.”

He began his career at Ponce School of Medicine (now Ponce Health Sciences University) in Puerto Rico before moving to New York to continue his education, completing his internship and residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

After some time, Cortés-Belén and his wife, Glenda, decided to relocate to Orlando in hopes of connecting with their heritage and community through health care. He believes that it is important to be able to meet patients in the state that they are in to provide optimal experience in a familiar, comforting environment.

“Sometimes we have a Hispanic patient, whose first language is not English, walk through our doors,” Cortés-Belén said. "The moment they hear me say ‘Buenos días’ and I see their face light up as they make the connection that ‘He's one of us’, is one of the best things to experience."

His commitment to help the community extends far beyond the hospital walls. As a health care leader with Habitat for Humanity, Cortés-Belén has organized and led a number of international aid projects over the last 20 years.

“My involvement in the community is an extension of what I do here in the emergency department,” he said. “It is an extension of my care for others, and it is what fulfill me."

Cortés-Belén believes in setting an example for his patients by living a balanced, active lifestyle. His dedication to this philosophy extends beyond the hospital, as he trains regularly to compete in endurance sports like cycling and duathlons. He has honed his skills and done well in competitions – so much so that, even at the age of 60, he has represented the United States’ Masters team in three separate duathlon events in Denmark, Spain and Australia. He hopes that these feats will serve as inspiration for his patients to do what they love and be passionate about their health.