Lauren Palmer Ortega, MD $$

Lauren Ortega, M.D., is a board-certified pediatric hospital medicine specialist at Children’s Health℠ providing critical care to hospitalized children. She serves as the lead physician for the Integrated Therapy Unit in Dallas and as the Service Chief of both the Hospitalist Program and the developing Level 2 NICU program in Plano. 

Dr. Ortega received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and earned her pediatric internship and residency from the University of California, San Diego. She is the recipient of several awards, including Pediatrician of the Year, Excellence in Teaching and Team Leadership and, as an intern, the Intern Award for Excellence in neonatal intensive care.

I am passionate about working with patients and their families to help them understand the potential to heal.

Dr. Ortega engages in various committees including the Code/MET committee, the Medication variance team, and the M&M planning committee. She created the Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) system for the HCA North Texas Division, a system that identifies pediatric patients at risk for clinical deterioration. Her research has examined eye emergencies in childhood and was published in “Pediatric Emergency Medicine”.

“Children are so resilient and strong,” says Dr. Ortega. “I am passionate about working with patients and their families to help them understand the potential to heal. Through education and collaboration, I enjoy building strong relationships that increase trust and help reduce anxiety.”

As a mother to two teen girls, Dr. Ortega can empathize with parents in their times of stress. She uses her insights and experience to bring hope and healing to those she cares for. 

She has been a Girl Scout leader of two troops for over 10 years and has aided her troops in achieving their Bronze and Silver Awards. She lived in Indonesia and Japan for a year each and has traveled widely. Dr. Ortega loves outdoor activities, especially camping and hiking. She and her family have visited more than 40 of our nation’s national parks. 

Dr. Ortega is fluent in Spanish