Jennifer Martin, a licensed clinical psychologist with nearly two decades of experience in geriatrics and veteran-centered research, has been appointed to serve in pivotal leadership roles at both Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU Medicine) and the Miami VA Healthcare System (Miami VA).
At FIU Medicine, Martin will serve as the Leon Medical Centers Professor in Geriatrics and director of the Benjamín León, Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education. At the Miami VA, she will serve as senior psychologist and director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC). She begins her new roles on Nov. 3.
“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 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. Her expertise spans geriatrics, behavioral sleep medicine and translational research.
Her appointment comes at a critical time. Nearly half of all U.S. veterans are 65 or older, and the number of veterans age 85 and older is expected to rise significantly over the next decade. This demographic shift underscores the increasing demand for specialized geriatric care, long-term support and innovative approaches to healthy aging.
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 of older veterans through integrated research, education and clinical programs.
At FIU Medicine, she will direct the Benjamín León Jr. Family Center for Geriatric Research and Education, an institute dedicated to advancing active aging, preventing frailty and improving health care delivery for older adults. The center was established through a transformative gift from Benjamín León Jr. and family and Leon Medical Centers.
This joint appointment further strengthens the longstanding partnership between FIU and the Miami VA, which also collaborate on the FIU/Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Miami) Internal Medicine Residency — a program that provides future physicians with hands-on experience serving veterans.
Martin received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of California San Diego, completed a clinical psychology internship at Brown University and pursued postdoctoral training in geriatrics at UCLA. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a diplomate of the American Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.