Jennifer Martin

Oct. 20, 2025 – In a groundbreaking collaboration to address the rapidly growing health needs of aging veterans, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU Medicine) and the Miami VA Healthcare System (Miami VA) have created a unique joint position to advance geriatric research, education, and care.

Jennifer Martin has been appointed to serve in pivotal leadership roles at both institutions. At FIU Medicine, she’ll serve as the Leon Medical Centers Professor in Geriatrics and director of the Benjamin Leon, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education. At the Miami VA, she’ll be a senior psychologist and director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center. She starts ON November 3.

Martin, a licensed clinical psychologist with nearly two decades of experience in geriatrics and veteran-centered research, joins FIU and the Miami VA after serving as associate director for clinical and health sciences research at the Greater Los Angeles VA GRECC and as professor of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. She brings expertise in geriatrics, behavioral sleep medicine, and translational research.

“This unique role bridges two missions—delivering world-class care to veterans while advancing cutting-edge research and education in geriatrics through a prestigious academic partnership and endowed program,” said Dr. Juan C. Cendan, dean of FIU Medicine and senior vice president for health affairs at FIU.

Martin’s appointment comes at a critical time. Nearly half of all U.S. veterans are 65 or older, and projections show the number of veterans aged 85 and above will continue to rise dramatically over the next decade. The demand for specialized geriatric care, long-term support, and innovative approaches to healthy aging has never been greater.

At the Miami VA, which provides primary and specialty care to about 63,000 veterans across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties, Martin will lead the GRECC in its mission to improve the health and quality of life for older veterans through integrated research, education, and clinical care. Simultaneously, at FIU, she will direct the Benjamín León Family Center for Geriatric Research & Education—an institute dedicated to advancing active aging, frailty prevention, and health care delivery to older adults, thanks to a transformative gift from Benjamín León Jr. and family and Leon Medical Centers.

This joint appointment builds on the strong partnership between FIU and the VA, which collaborates on the FIU /Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency, training future physicians at the Miami VA.

Martin received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California San Diego, followed by a clinical psychology internship at Brown University, and post-doctoral training in geriatrics at UCLA. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

About FIU:
Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars, and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health, and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.