Mario Ortega, MD
Mario R Ortega, MD is the founder and driving force behind our practice here at International Pediatrics. Dr. Ortega graduated from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala and completed his residency at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He founded the practice in 1973. Under his guidance we have developed a practice that focuses on working with the parent and child to provide the best health possible. With over 50 years experience as a doctor he has guided us to administer compassionate, family-centered care for children of all ages and family backgrounds.
Dr. Ortega enjoys spending time with his family as well as cheering on the Guatemala National Football team, of which he was a proud member in his younger days!
Jose Mario Ortega, MD
Jose Mario Ortega, MD has been a pediatrician at International Pediatrics since 1999. Son of founder Mario Ortega, MD he graduated from Francisco Marroquin University in Guatemala and completed his residency at the Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center where he was Chief Resident.
Jose Mario Ortega, MD currently serves on the Medical Advisory Committee of one of the largest insurance companies in the area. He is also a Director of a local children’s soccer club. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and attending Capitals and soccer games.
Fabiola Costello, FNP
Fabiola is originally from Peru. She has lived in the Washington metropolitan area for more than 10 years. Fabiola earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University and a masters in family medicine at Marymount University. Fabiola enjoys speaking Spanish with her patients and their parents. She is very proud of her Spanish heritage. Having grown up in a Latin American country, Fabiola has a deep understanding of Hispanic culture and the specific needs of Hispanic patients.
Her clinical interests encompass all aspects of pediatric care from newborn to adolescence. Her particular interests include preventive medicine and adolescent mental health issues. In her free time, Fabiola enjoys spending time with her spouse and three young children. She also loves playing tennis and painting super heroes. Fabiola’s multicultural experience has increased her belief that to be the best health care provider you need to have strong medical knowledge while being a sensitive and compassionate person.
Natalia Orduz, MD
Meet Dr. Natalia Orduz, a wonderful pediatrician originally from Bogotá, Colombia, but now calls the United States her home. She earned her Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland and then completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at New York Medical College. After that, she finished her pediatric residency training at Penn State Milton Hershey Children’s Hospital. Now, she works for International Pediatrics, where she can provide top-notch medical care to a diverse community. Dr. Natalia is passionate about helping her patients and always takes an evidence-based approach. Furthermore, Dr. Natalia deeply understands healthcare disparities affecting the Latinx community since she is a native Spanish speaker and is honored to help bridge the gap and deliver healthcare to all.
When she’s not busy working, you might find her enjoying the great outdoors with her spouse and her dog. Dr. Natalia loves kayaking, hiking, trying new restaurants, and traveling. Fun fact: Dr. Natalia is also a very talented musician. She plays the bongos and guitar very well.
Vera Goldberg, MD
Dr. Vera completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Health and Societies and a certificate in Spanish. Before starting medical school at Harvard, Dr. Vera lived in Xela, Guatemala, for six months, where she participated in a language and cultural immersion program to improve her Spanish. During medical school, she spent a year working in rural communities of Guatemala with an NGO, Wuqu’ Kawoq, on their childhood nutrition program. She completed her pediatric internship at the University of California San Francisco as part of the PLUS Program (Pediatric Leaders Advancing Health Equity) and her pediatric residency at Loyola University Medical Center in the suburbs of Chicago as part of the Community Pediatric Engagement Program. During residency, she worked on projects to address developmental delays in children under five years old and food insecurity.
Dr Vera joined International Pediatrics in the summer of 2022. Her clinical interests include addressing food insecurity and childhood hunger, early childhood development, quality improvement, and mitigating health disparities. She strives to use her skills and energy with kindness, humility, and a growth mindset to provide excellent, compassionate healthcare to pediatric patients while advocating for and empowering patients and families. Dr. Vera enjoys dancing, spin-biking, kayaking, and spending time with her nephews.
Sandra
Sandra hails from Mexico, but her upbringing was that of an Army brat. She spent her formative years overseas before enrolling at Northeastern University in Boston to pursue a Bachelor’s in Biology, which she completed in 1999. In 2015, she obtained a Master’s in Family Nurse Practitioner from Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Her experience spans the treatment of patients of all ages, including infants, children, adults, and GYN patients. Sandra prides herself on advocating for her patients and communicating effectively with them. She enjoys spending quality moments with her husband and three children in her free time, indulging in culinary pursuits, delving into literature, and basking in the great outdoors.