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Fulton and Montgomery Counties Benefit From Increased Local Access to Spine and Orthopedic Care
February 24, 2026
Feb. 24, 2026—Residents of Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties are reaping the first benefits of a joint venture that brings much-needed spine and orthopedic surgeons to St. Mary’s Healthcare, Nathan Littauer Hospital and Mohawk Valley Orthopedic Associates.
The three organizations are partners in Fulton-Montgomery Medical, a professional corporation that enables St. Mary’s and Nathan Littauer to collaborate on attracting medical providers and
Dr. Martinez
practices. MVOA joined Fulton-Montgomery Medical last year as the corporation’s first service line.
Spine surgeon Arnaldo Martinez, MD, and orthopedic surgeon Joachim Tenuta, MD, came on board this month as members of MVOA. They join Russell Cecil, MD, and Gerald Ortiz, MD, who have been the Mohawk Valley’s leading orthopedic surgeons for decades.
“Our partnership with St. Mary’s and Nathan Littauer was instrumental in recruiting exceptionally skilled surgeons to help our practice grow alongside the region’s expanding orthopedic needs,” Dr. Cecil said. “With two more physicians on our team, patients can be confident that timely, high-quality orthopedic care will remain available in our community.”
Dr. Martinez comes to MVOA from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he completed fellowships in spine surgery and pediatric orthopedics. He earned his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus and is a member of the North American Spine Society and the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
Dr. Tenuta has nearly 40 years of experience, including as an orthopedic surgeon at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. He also served as team physician at the U.S. Military Academy at West
Dr. Tenuta
Point for 12 years and as clinical instructor in West Point’s John A. Feagin Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. A graduate of West Point and University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Tenuta completed his orthopedic residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
The two new physicians add complementary expertise to a practice that has earned a reputation for excellence, compassion and its personal approach to patient care.
Dr. Martinez is highly skilled in spine surgery and pediatric orthopedics, and Dr. Tenuta has special expertise in sports medicine and shoulder arthroplasty. Dr. Cecil is an expert in joint replacement surgery, and Dr. Ortiz is specially trained in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery.
“Whether they have bone, joint or muscle injuries, patients can count on MVOA for accurate diagnosis and superior care right here, close to home,” Dr. Ortiz said.
MVOA has offices at 5010 State Highway 30 in Amsterdam and 434 South Kingsboro Ave. in Johnstown. Surgery is performed at St. Mary’s Healthcare and Nathan Littauer Hospital. For appointments, call (518) 842-2663 (Amsterdam) or (518) 773-4242 (Johnstown).
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About Fulton-Montgomery Medical, PC: A joint venture of St. Mary’s Healthcare and Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home, Fulton-Montgomery Medical, PC, was founded in fall 2024 to help ensure continued, seamless access to essential care locally. Instead of competing on certain service lines, the two independent community hospitals created a vehicle to collaborate in attracting and retaining physicians and other providers. Orthopedics is the first specialty under this new partnership.
