Sara F. Martin, MD

Sara Martin, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine’s Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, and Medical Director of Outpatient Palliative Care and for the Adult Post-Acute COVID Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

 

Dr. Martin's interests include the study of early palliative care in multiple populations, as well as the diagnosis and management of post-acute sequala of COVID (PASC or long COVID). As Medical Director of Outpatient Palliative Care, she has led the effort to create and expand the clinical component of the palliative care service. She is the site PI of a large national PCORI grant studying early palliative care in patients with stage IV NSCLC, and has participated in research studying early palliative care in hepatology patients and patients undergoing high risk oncologic surgeries. Dr. Martin has presented nationally on the topic of early palliative care and its role in patients with a serious illnesses ranging from cancer to ALS. Additionally, in her role as Medical Director of the Post-Acute COVID Clinic, Dr. Martin serves as a clinical expert for VUMC as part of the large, NIH-funded RECOVER grant, partnering with colleagues on studies focused on treatment of PASC.

 

Dr. Martin received her Bachelor of Science and medical degrees from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed her internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at VUMC. She subsequently completed a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine prior to joining VUMC as faculty in 2010.

 

Dr. Martin enjoys teaching trainees palliative care skills and medical ethics, and has won awards for excellence in teaching. She has produced and conceptualized documentaries related to palliative care that have been shown at film festivals throughout the United States. As a result of her contributions, she has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.