C/COBCTC Endorses Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz

The Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council proudly endorses Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz.

“I am so honored and proud to be endorsed by the fine people, who make up the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council,” said Dr. Ortiz.

Born in New York City, Dr. Ortiz graduated from the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, a six-year BS/MD program, at City College of New York. She then received her medical degree from Downstate Medical College in Brooklyn and did her residency at St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, as a pediatrician.

After residency, her career has focused on providing care to the underserved communities of New York City and eventually those in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Ortiz moved to the central Ohio area in 1996, where she has worked as a pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Westside Community Health Center and North Community Counseling. A proponent of volunteering in the community, she currently volunteers at Helping Hands Free Clinic, as well as internationally with Timmy Global Health Care.

In November 2014, Dr. Ortiz was appointed to the office of Franklin County Coroner. Since then, she has worked towards streamlining the process for more timely completion of death certificates, has had several forms professionally interpreted for families of decedents whose primary language is not English and is working on educating the medical community on completing death certificates.

Additionally, Dr. Ortiz is currently on the Franklin County Suicide Workgroup, which is looking at suicide in Franklin County and attempting to decrease the rate of suicide. In March 2015, she instituted the Franklin County Drug Overdose Initiative. This group meets monthly to look at the rising rate of drug use and deaths in Franklin County (or Central Ohio) and how we can intervene. In a short period of time, several members of the group have developed concrete plans to create programs which will decrease the number of deaths from overdoses.

Dr. Anahi Ortiz has almost 30 years of experience working with high risk communities in the medical field. She brings this experience and knowledge to the office of Coroner where she will be a voice for those who die of violent means and help improve the lives of our community.

“Dr. Ortiz has served Franklin County well as coroner. Her passion for the job is evident in the time she puts in, especially her efforts to curb the persistent opioid crisis that is affecting many Ohioans and their families,” said Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Dorsey Hager. “We are proud to endorse Dr. Ortiz for Franklin County Coroner.”