Dr. Claudia I. Martinez is currently a Spinal Cord Injury Fellow at UTHealth Houston. She received her medical degree from McGovern Medical School in 2020 where she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society. She completed her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency in 2024 at UTHealth Houston where she served as Administrative Chief.
Being inspired by her own recovery after suffering a stroke during her last brain surgery that initially left her unable to function from the neck down, she chose to pursue a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. With her unique background, she strives to bridge the gap between patient and doctor as she has been a patient throughout her undergraduate and medical school career. Her goal as a physiatrist is to advocate, empower and provide for her patients during their hospitalization, but more importantly beyond the doors of the hospital.
She has received numerous awards from the Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Neurology for her scholarship and has received the Medal of Valor from the City of Houston for her commitment to patient advocacy.
She has become a role model and voice for those working in medicine who have a disability. The Claudia I. Martinez Strength Scholarship Endowment was created at UTHealth in her honor to award a medical student facing adversity a scholarship for their medical education. Her goal as a physiatrist is to advocate, empower and provide for her patients during their hospitalization, but more importantly beyond the doors of the hospital. Her interests include healthcare disparities, diversity & inclusion and disability in medicine.
She decided to work with Influent to help medical students and residents get access to podcasts on various topics she wished she would have known more about during training. Outside of medicine she enjoys non-profit work, spending time with her family, music, shopping and crafts.