Lambert Orton, MD, FACEP, always knew he wanted to be a physician like his father. When Orton was in medical school he received a letter from a former teacher that Orton had written while in seventh grade about his plans to become a medical doctor.
After graduating from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota in 1964, he completed his M.D. at University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa in 1971. Dr. Orton was honored as Resident of the Year during his rotating internship at Presbyterian Medical Center, Denver, Colorado, where he also completed a Residency in Internal Medicine in 1974.
Bringing innovation to communities
After serving as an emergency room physician and a critical care physician at hospitals in the Denver, Colorado area, Dr. Orton founded Mountain Medical Associates, P.C. He helped initiate occupational health treatment for area coal mine workers in the 1970s. In 1983 Dr. Orton and his father formed Orton and Orton, M.D.’s, in Mason City, Iowa, where he helped implement an advanced 911 system.
A passion for emergency medicine
Then he returned to emergency medicine from 1985 to 1992, serving as Medical Director of Mercy Emergency Center, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, in Mason City, Iowa. During this time, he also served as President of STAT, P.C., providing emergency department physician services. In 1992, Dr. Orton joined Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado, as Emergency Physician.
In recognition of his work in emergency medicine, Dr. Orton was awarded the Fellow of American College of Emergency Medicine distinction in 1994.
Yampa Valley Medical Associates
Dr. Orton has always called the Yampa Valley home, and in 1992, returned to join Steamboat Medical Group. In 2001, he joined forces with area physicians to buy back Mountain Medical Associates, now called Yampa Valley Medical Associates, where he is an internist. Dr. Orton also serves as an emergency room physician at Yampa Valley Medical Center
Recipient of the Doc Willet Award
Dr. Orton also is a rancher, former multi-engine pilot, and licensed realtor whose personal warmth, kindness, and quality healthcare is woven into the modern history of Steamboat Springs. In 2011, Dr. Orton received the prestigious Doc Willett award for his service to the Yampa Valley community in the storied tradition of the dedicated country doctor, Dr. Frederick E. Willett, who made “ranch calls” — going above and beyond to help his patients.