Albany Medical Center Welcomes Dr. Jaime Ortiz as Chair of Anesthesiology
Jaime Ortiz, MD, MBA, has joined Albany Medical Center as chief of Anesthesiology and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and professor of Anesthesiology at Albany Medical College.
Dr. Ortiz brings expertise in regional anesthesia, acute pain management, and medical acupuncture, a non-invasive option helpful in reducing post-operative nausea and for patients with acute pain. He specializes in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks.
“An accomplished clinician, educator, and academic leader, Dr. Ortiz has built a distinguished career advancing anesthesiology through innovative, patient-centered programs and rigorous quality improvement initiatives that enhance safety and outcomes,” said Alan S. Boulos, MD, ’94, The Lynne and Mark D. Groban, MD ’67 Distinguished Dean of Albany Medical College. “We are excited to welcome him, his clinical and technological acumen, his ability to lead, and his enthusiasm for expanding research opportunities to our institution.”
The Department of Anesthesiology provides patients of all ages general, regional, and monitored anesthesia options 24/7, critical to the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.
“In every procedure, including minimally-invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries, we optimize pain management for patients—taking the opportunity to set up patients for a successful post-operative experience,” said Dr. Ortiz. “Choosing the right anesthesia for each situation allows for patients to recover quicker and return to their daily lives sooner, while also minimizing the need for opioid medications and potential complications.”
Most recently, Dr. Ortiz cared for patients undergoing surgery and endoscopy procedures at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center and surgical and interventional procedures at Harris Health System’s Ben Taub Hospital, both in Houston. As vice chair for clinical quality, outcomes, and research for the Department of Anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, he helped create a quality improvement program across multiple clinical sites, while also developing a clinical research infrastructure to support faculty.
Building on his work at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Ortiz plans to grow the research program through collaboration with surgical colleagues.
Dr. Ortiz completed an anesthesiology residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a regional anesthesia fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University, New York. He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio, Master of Business Administration with Healthcare Management Emphasis at West Texas A & M in Canyon, Texas, and Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at Tulane University, New Orleans.
Dr. Ortiz treats patients at Albany Medical Center and the Bone & Joint Center in Malta, and leads anesthesiologists throughout both settings as well as Glens Falls Hospital, working with clinical leaders to manage patient care in high volume surgical areas.
Members of Albany Medical Center’s Department of Anesthesiology also see patients at the Spine Center of Albany, working with neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, and others on identifying causes of pain and treatment options for patients. The team also collaborates with the Department of Surgery on the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program, a specialized care model that supports patients through the surgical process and works to minimize the use of and complications from opioid medication.