Rafael Ortega, MD
Professor
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Anesthesiology

MD, Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU)



Rafael A. Ortega, MD, a native of the Dominican Republic, is a graduate of the UNPHU in Santo Domingo and trained in anesthesiology at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center in the early 1980's. He is Professor of Anesthesiology and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine.

Dr. Ortega is a diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology and the National Board of Echocardiography. His interests include cardiac and thoracic anesthesia, computer-assisted instruction, and education in anesthesiology. He has served in various committees with American Society of Anesthesiologists, Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists and the Wood Library Museum.

Dr. Ortega has published a variety of papers, book chapters, and multimedia programs in a broad range of topics including airway management, operating room hazards, and the history of his specialty. In 2006, he published the book Written in Granite and spearheaded the restoration of the Ether Monument in the Boston Public Garden. With the proceeds from this book, a maintenance fund was created to assure the monument’s continuing preservation. His most recent work includes the publication of a series of clinical procedure videos in New England Journal of Medicine and a multilingual instructional program for the World Health Organization’s Global Pulse Oximetry Project.

As Assistant Dean of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, he is responsible for fostering diversity and cultural competence among students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Ortega works with four Assistant Deans. Together they form a formidable team striving to make Boston University Medical Campus as heterogeneous and inclusive as possible. Dr. Ortega is committed to unquestionable openness and inclusion, promoting relations among all groups, and inspiring students and faculty to learn from each other while appreciating their differences.

Assistant Dean
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Diversity & Inclusion


Chair
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Anesthesiology


Chief
Boston Medical Center
Anesthesiology


Vice Chair
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Anesthesiology
Academic Affairs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis       Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

  1. Ortega R, Song S. Leading with Harmony: Lessons in Leadership from Music Theory for Anesthesiologists. Anesthesiology. 2025 Apr 01; 142(4):755-757. PMID: 39928434; DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000005365;
     
  2. Ortega R. Whispers in the Operating Room: Anesthesia and Oriana Fallaci. Anesth Analg. 2025 Jan 28. PMID: 39874198; DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007342;
     
  3. Song S, Hoggard M, Ortega R. When the Drip Stops: The Intravenous Fluid Shortage. Anesth Analg. 2025 Mar 01; 140(3):e22-e23. PMID: 39869521; DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007372;
     
  4. Ortega R, Vietor R, Arbelaez C, Feliu D, Nozari A, Ortoleva J. Blast Injuries. N Engl J Med. 2024 Dec 12; 391(23):e58.View Related Profiles. PMID: 39665654
     
  5. Barkley R, Vickers DJ, Binda DD, Ortega R. An Auditory Analogy for Electroencephalography Understanding: Video in Clinical Anesthesia. A A Pract. 2024 Dec 01; 18(12):e01871. PMID: 39660749; DOI: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001871;
     
  6. Barkley R, Vickers DJ, Binda DD, Ortega R. Una Analogía Auditiva Para la Comprensión del EEG: Video en Anestesia Clínica. A A Pract. 2024 Dec 01; 18(12):e01870. PMID: 39660771; DOI: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001870;
     
  7. Gonzalez M, Brook K, Arriaga A, Hayes R, Nozari A, Ortega R. In Response. Anesth Analg. 2024 Jul 01; 139(1):e4-e5.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38885402
     
  8. Baker MB, Ortega R, Bilotta F, Wang J, Bernstein W. ICERA: Increasing accessibility to medical education through structured international collaboration. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2024; 74(4):844522. PMID: 38821223; PMCID: PMC11222938; DOI: 10.1016/j.bjane.2024.844522;
     
  9. Ortega R, Binda DD, Lavanier SA, Uminski JG. The Aqualumni Tree: Two Score Years Later. Anesth Analg. 2024 Apr 01; 138(4):740-745. PMID: 38489793; DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006466;
     
  10. Bernstein W, Norris M, Chase A, Hayes R, Binda DD, Ortega R. Operating Room Fire Prevention: Video in Clinical Anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 2024 Apr 01; 138(4):909-912.View Related Profiles. PMID: 38489796
     
Showing 10 of 127 results. Show More

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 127 publications over 34 distinct years, with a maximum of 10 publications in 2024

YearPublications
19891
19911
19922
19935
19942
19951
19961
19974
19985
19994
20001
20012
20022
20044
20053
20068
20077
20086
20091
20103
20112
20121
20144
20155
20162
20175
20182
20191
20206
20219
20225
20239
202410
20253


Dr. Marcelle Willock, groundbreaking role model for women and people of color in medicine, dies at 84

The Boston Globe 10/30/2022

Inhalation Induction

New England Journal of Medicine 9/8/2022

Barrier Enclosure During Endotracheal Intubation

New England Journal of Medicine 4/3/2020

Boston Medical Center Creates Patient Safety Toolkit

Medical Training Magazine 1/28/2019

MLK’s Enduring Legacy

BU Today 1/18/2019

New CFA Dean Is Arts Historian and Advocate

BU Today 1/22/2018
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88 E. Newton St Newton Pavilion
Boston MA 02118
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617.638.6950
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