By Vanessa Orr
Dr. Juan Martinez has spent his medical career caring for children. Though he was first drawn to pediatric pulmonology by the types of cases he would treat, he soon developed a true passion for caring for the youngest patients and their families.
“During my primary care training in pediatrics, I was mentored by an attending physician who brought my attention to a couple of interesting pulmonology cases and how they were treated,” he explained. “I started to see how the lungs are related to almost every organ system, and to many of the conditions that children have. So I applied for an elective rotation at the specialty hospital where that physician was from and got accepted.”
Dr. Martinez completed his pediatric internship and residency at MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by a fellowship in pediatric pulmonary medicine at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland. He later served for more than two decades at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where he was chief of the pediatric pulmonology, cystic fibrosis, and pediatric sleep division, as well as medical director of both the Joe DiMaggio Sleep Disorders Center and the Joe DiMaggio Cystic Fibrosis Center. He joined KIDZ Medical Services as a pediatric pulmonologist and pediatric sleep medicine specialist last September.
“What I like most about my job is helping families; I’m a very social person, and I enjoy speaking with families, not just about medical problems but life in general,” he said. “Different families have different life philosophies about how they approach caring for their kids, and I find that enlightening.
“The kids themselves are incredibly resilient and have such a positive outlook, and most recover well from their conditions,” he added. “That ‘positivity vibe’ brings me back to work every day.”
Treating Pulmonary Problems
Dr. Martinez treats a broad range of conditions and diseases across all ages. His pulmonary patients range from premature newborns with lung issues and children with cystic fibrosis at risk of developing chronic lung disease, to children with more common clinical conditions like asthma or chronic cough. He also deals with anatomical airway abnormalities and conditions that require semi-surgical procedures or interventions like bronchoscopy, and treats pediatric patients with sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
“Pediatric pulmonary issues and sleep issues are inherently related,” he explained. “Breathing is one of the mechanisms we learn about intensely in pulmonary training, including the control of breathing, how it is regulated, the dynamics of breathing, the physiology, gas exchange, and more—all of which are interrelated to pediatric sleep.”
According to Dr. Martinez, symptoms of pediatric sleep problems are often seen during the day, as children who do not get adequate sleep at night may be restless, inattentive, fall asleep, or not do well in school. Behavioral consequences can include hyperactivity and executive dysfunction.
Dr. Martinez is actively involved in research and clinical trials on cystic fibrosis, asthma, and pediatric sleep disorders, and serves as an affiliate clinical assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University. He has also taught at the University of South Florida.
Since joining KIDZ, Dr. Martinez has not only helped new patients but also returned to Miami, where his family is originally from. He has also re-established friendships with many of the doctors that he’s worked with over the past two decades while based in Hollywood, FL.
“KIDZ is a very broad-spectrum organization with high respect for its physicians and their independence, and it’s filled with hardworking people,” he said. “It’s a wonderful organization, and it’s been great to get the opportunity to come work with old friends.”
