Dr. Tortolani's main research interests lie in the field of cardiac surgery and surgical resident and medical student education. He has researched and published articles concerning alternative sources for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; the perioperative use of Amiodarone in high risk cardiac surgery patients, Apoptosis and the pathophysicology and therapeutic implications for the cardiac surgeon, and cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with pre-existing coagulopathy He is has also been instrumental in studying the differences in extubation times amongst the cardiac surgery patients.

Dr. Tortolani has been most active in analyzing the evaluation process of surgical residents and medical students including teaching surgical skills as well as analyzing the assessment and teaching by peers and surgical teaching faculty. He has also published articles on the need for physician leadership, provider service organizations and physicians partnering with provider service organizations.