FOCUS ON HEALTH:Whoopi Goldberg’s medicine man

Hanging near his diploma from the University of Miami School of Medicine, Dr. Jorge Rodriguez displays a less conventional credential at his internal medicine practice in Newport Beach.

A 3-by-4-foot, black-and-white photograph of Whoopi Goldberg sitting on a taxi cab takes center stage in his office, inscribed with a message on the AIDS epidemic.

“Things are better, but honey … it ain’t over yet,” reads the inscription. It’s a fitting dedication to the HIV specialist and president of AIDS Services Foundation Orange County, a nonprofit foundation that provides care and services to people with HIV, as well as educational outreach.

Rodriguez became acquainted with the Oscar-winning actress and comedian several years ago when a mutual friend introduced them over the phone. Goldberg had a medical question, and Rodriguez had the answer.

The two remained in contact, and ever since October, they’ve continued their medical discussions over the airwaves.

Between 2 and 6 a.m. (5 and 9 a.m. Eastern time) every Thursday, Rodriguez offers his medical advice on Goldberg’s New York City-based morning radio talk show, “Wake Up With Whoopi,” to listeners nationwide.

On his health segment, 100 Years to Live, Rodriguez addresses a new health topic each week, including specific diseases — such as breast cancer and influenza — and general health concerns such as fad diets and high blood pressure.

“I am able to talk to people in lay terms,” the 48-year-old doctor said. “I dispel a lot of mythology about medicine and try to make people less fearful about being proactive with their health.”

The show’s producer and director, Mike Opelka, is impressed with “Dr. Jorge’s” comprehensive medical knowledge and straightforward presentation and said listeners appreciate his advice because it is easily understood.

“He’s not just a competent doctor, but he makes a terrific presentation,” said Opelka, who got his first flu shot this season following Rodriguez’s advice. “He always has a nonclinical answer and is open to any question.”

Rodriguez, who records the segments from his Laguna Beach home, believes people are inclined to take his advice as a doctor affiliated with Goldberg because her stature makes listeners feel comfortable and less threatened.

Though she is deathly afraid of needles and dreads doctor visits, Goldberg approaches medicine with a sense of humor and always tries to incorporate contemporary issues and concerns, Rodriguez said, adding she is “one of the most intelligent and well-read people” he’s ever met. His favorite broadcast, and the most comedic thus far, focused on male birth control.

For Rodriguez, the program is not a vehicle to stardom, but an arena to spread information about preventive medicine to people outside his private medical practice. He said many of his patients would be surprised to learn about his involvement with the show.

“In medicine, one of the few ways to really avoid disaster is catching things early,” he said.

“Wake Up With Whoopi” is syndicated in cities throughout the United States, including San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia. Though it isn’t on the air in Southern California, locals can listen to a stream of Rodriguez’s program at www.wakeupwithwhoopi.com.