About our Doctors in the Orlando | Winter Park area
Your go-to primary care doctors in the Orlando Winter Park area, specializing in internal medicine, medical weight loss, disease prevention, senior patient care, and management of acute and chronic illnesses for patients 18+ years of age.
Our Mission
IO Medical was founded with one core mission in mind: To provide patients with the treatments, programs, and medical guidance they need to reach and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Period.
Disease prevention and long-term wellness are at the backbone of our practice. We seek to find the root of your problem and look at more than just surface-level symptoms.
With that being said, our mission is to take the emotional, physical, and mental well-being of our patients into account before, during, and after the treatment process.
Our Vision
Our vision is to leave no patient unheard. We seek to listen to every question, concern, or gut-feeling you may have, so we can properly assess and treat your condition.
Chronic medical conditions and acute illnesses are overwhelming. We know the frustration you feel when you can’t find someone who will listen attentively to you when your body is in pain.
That is why we strive to make sure every patient is seen and heard, because we know how much better it feels when someone actually takes a little extra time and effort to listen and help you understand the issue at hand.
Our Story: Who We Are
IO Medical stands for “Internal and Obesity Medicine.” In 2022, we founded IO Medical because we wanted to provide our Orlando community with the best of the best primary care services and doctors in the Orlando area.
As board certified physicians in internal medicine, we both have a strong passion for guiding patients through their journey to health and wellness.
From age and gender appropriate disease screening modalities and immunizations to personalized medical weight loss programs, we cater to the needs of a diverse range of patients. We treat those with acute illnesses such as respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, rashes, and chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, COPD, congestive heart failure, common cardiac arrhythmias, and many more.
Whenever you come to our office, you can always count on an experienced primary care doctor to greet you at the door.
Our Commitment to You
As medical professionals with a passion to treat those in need of medical attention, we are committed to the overall health and well-being of our patients. Contact us today!
Meet the Doctors in Orlando
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physicians
Dr. Dioben Aquino De La Cruz
Internal Medicine
“FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION”
In some ways, Dr. Dioben Aquino approaches his profession like a detective might when solving a case. While treating patients for conditions, he explores all of the factors involved to help determine proper remedies.
“It’s more toward finding a root cause of problems,” says the Winter Park-area internist. He applies what is known as functional medicine, a holistic method that continues to gain in popularity in the medical field.
Dr. Aquino and his wife, Dr. Raquel Michel, operate IO Medical, which specializes in care for seniors, with a focus on prevention. The practice addresses a variety of illnesses and diseases such as respiratory infections, rashes, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma and COPD.
The Dominican Republic native traces his interest in medicine to childhood, when, at age 10, he became intrigued by how the body works and began learning as much as he could.
He eventually attended medical school in his country, meeting his future wife, who was also a classmate. Although they lost track of each other after graduation, they met again by chance during their residency in New York and eventually married and relocated to Orlando.
The couple began practicing in 2012, and 10 years later opened IO Medical. (The IO stands for Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine.) There, the doctors address the four pillars of metabolic health: food, sleep, exercise and emotional well-being.
Appointments are scheduled so that patients aren’t rushed, ensuring plenty of time for effective and caring communication, Dr. Aquino says.
“We also deeply care about seniors,” he says.
That group greatly benefits from a functional medicine approach because health issues increase during the aging process.
So, if someone is suffering from an autoimmune disease, for example, other factors may play a role, including environment or diet. Then those matters can be addressed as well, beyond treatment through prescription drugs.
“If you’re not thinking outside the box, you might fail to find the reasons,” he says. “You have to look at the patients as a whole.”
Dr. Raquel Michel
Internal Medicine
“FOOD FOR THOUGHT”
Patients visiting Dr. Raquel Michel can be assured of sound medical care and a compassionate ear. And, invariably, there will be a chat about dining habits.
“I believe a lot in preventing illness through nutrition,” says the Winter Park-area internal medicine physician. “I’m fascinated by the science of food.” Dr. Michel and her husband, Dr. Dioben Aquino, operate IO Medical, which specializes in care for seniors.
The office treats a wide variety of illnesses and diseases such as respiratory infections, rashes, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma, and COPD. However, preventive medicine is a top focus.
Her fond relationship with food dates back to her childhood in the Dominican Republic. She recalls meals that were lovingly prepared at home, with whole foods ingredients that were abundant in the Caribbean country.
That was also where the future Dr. Michel became interested in medicine; her aunts and uncles were in the profession and served as role models. As a 12-year-old, she would read their medical textbooks out of curiosity.
While attending medical school in the Dominican Republic, she met her future husband, a fellow classmate. Although they lost track of each other after graduation, they met again by chance during their residency in New York and eventually married and relocated to Orlando.
The couple started practicing in 2012, and 10 years later opened IO Medical. (The IO stands for Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine.)
“My patients feel that they can approach me as a friend,” Dr. Michel says. “Their experience feels very personal to them.”
That involves education about the food they eat and tailoring diets to a person’s condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or excess weight.
All Good Things Come in Pairs
Dr. Michel and Dr. Aquino met while in medical school in the Dominican Republic. However, after graduation, they lost touch with each other. By chance, they met again in New York where they completed residency together, got married, and became doctors in Orlando, FL.
Today, they are the parents of two lovely sons who they are raising in The City Beautiful. They both love High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIT) as well as intermittent fasting.
When it comes to their medical practice, they both have a passion for food as medicine and truly believe patients should be seen as individuals with different care approaches targeted to their own needs. At IO Medical, you will not find a one-size-fits-all approach! Dr. Michel and Dr. Aquino strive to ensure that the four pillars of metabolic health which include food, sleep, exercise, and emotional well-being, are continuously addressed and in optimal balance.
