overview

• Roberto C. Portela, MD graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 2002. He then completed his Emergency Medicine Residency training with the same institution in 2005, staying afterwards as faculty of the residency program. He served as Assistant Professor there from 2005 to 2013. While in Puerto Rico Dr. Portela served as Medical Director of "First response Emergency Medical Services (FREMS)", flight physician for Aero Jet International air transport services and as online medical control for the Puerto Rico State EMS Agency.
  
  In 2013 he moved to Greenville, NC and started working for ECU - Brody School of Medicine under the Department of Emergency as Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Portela is board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in both Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and of the Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP).
  
  Dr. Portela joined the Army Reserve in 1994 as a 91B Combat Medic. He then complete ROTC training and became a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps in 1998. He served as platoon leader, XO and company commander of the 407th Medical Company (GA). After finishing medical school, he changed branch to Medical Corps, becoming part of the 369th Combat Support Hospital, where he served as unit base commander for a year. He was then transferred to the 322th Medical Support Company. Dr. Portela deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom twice in 2006 and in 2010. After 21 years, Dr. Portela retired from the Army Reserve in 2014 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Portela also served as the Medical director of Pitt County EMS from 2014 to 2023.Dr. Portela currently serves as the Division Chief for EMS in the ECU department of Emergency Medicine andas the Program Director of the EMS Fellowship at ECU Health. At the state level, Dr. Portela is a member of the North carolina Ofiice of EMS Advisory Council and the North CarolinaEmergency Medical Services Disciplinary Committee.