Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous individual alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the medical director for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the 2024 Men’s Health Ultimate Guy Winner, Dr. Leo Moore.
For the past five years, 39-year-old Dr. Moore has served as medical director at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. His medical specialty is internal medicine, particularly HIV and STD prevention. It’s a path he chose after his best friend’s sudden HIV diagnosis. A second chance at life has inspired Dr. Moore to recommit to reducing HIV-related stigma.
His local activism started with co-founding the first World AIDS Day event at Columbus State University. His alma mater is based in Georgia, and there, he introduced free, routine HIV testing on campus.
Dr. Moore stated he faces a challenge greater than simple denial. He’s emotionally affected by the loss of patients, friends, and colleagues. It’s further strained by the prevalent medical mistrust, especially in his own community. The black community. He’s become more determined because of his brush with death. His wish is to “die empty,” using all his potential to help others before he dies.
He prioritizes self-care, including healthy eating, working out, sufficient sleep, and quality time with loved ones. With this second chance, Dr. Moore will continue to care for his patients and community and remain a loving and dependable friend, uncle, brother, and son. Dr. Moore doesn’t know the future but commits to letting love guide his actions.
In his own words, Dr. Moore describes the Black community’s distrust of healthcare professionals, attributing it to historical and political neglect:
“It stops people from getting tested. It keeps people from getting treated at all, even though they know their diagnosis. And we still have people dying from AIDS to this day because they refuse to believe that they have HIV, or they are so fearful of side effects that they’d rather die from not taking the medication.”
A second chance at life after almost dying thanks to mishap during an elective surgery. That experience has allowed Dr. Moore to continue his life’s work after he cheated death. Using his medical expertise to change perceptions around AIDS/HIV and seeking medical care in the black community. Today, we honor Dr. Leo Moore as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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