Douglas Martin, MD
Douglas Martin, MD, is a generous supporter of the ROI as a member of the Founders’ Circle and the 2019 President’s Circle. He and his son also participated in the 2019 5K Run for the Future to Benefit the ROI at the ASTRO Annual Meeting, and Dr. Martin made a contribution when he registered for the run in addition to paying his registration fee. Dr. Martin is joining the ROI Development Committee to assist the ROI with its fundraising efforts.
Please tell us about your role at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC). Are you involved in patient care, teaching and/or research?
I am a professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations for the Department of Radiation Oncology and have a busy clinical practice primarily in genitourinary radiation oncology and brachytherapy.
Please highlight any special accomplishments you have achieved in the field of radiation oncology.
I am honored to have been able to participate in the dramatic growth that our OSUWMC Radiation Oncology Department, and the James Cancer Program as a whole has experienced over the last 10+ years. We have increased our faculty and staff at least 3-fold and have planned and moved into a new cancer hospital in 2014 and are now planning a proton/photon ambulatory site to open in ~2021.
I am also thankful to have been able to participate on several ASTRO committees, including serving on the History Committee with my mentor and the chair of the committee, Dr. David Hussey when the ASTRO 50th anniversary book was produced and also to be an APEx surveyor and committee member and serve as the second physician chair of the APEx committee.
Why did you decide to become a radiation oncologist?
I was an engineer before going to medical school, and when I was finally exposed to radiation oncology (in March of my last year of medical school), it just fit. Luckily, I owed the U.S. Navy time, and while serving as a medical officer in the fleet, was able to spend more time in radiation oncology departments solidifying that this was the field for me. The technical challenge of providing safe and effective treatment combined with the relationships we develop with our patients and their families to me is the ideal combination.
How do you envision the future of the field of radiation oncology? In what ways would you like to see it grow/evolve?
The indications for radiation therapy continue to increase with just two examples being treatment of oligometastatic disease and combining radiation therapy with immunotherapy. This leads to many more unanswered questions and anything we can do to help support finding the answers (donating to the ROI!) will help us improve the care of our patients. I do feel we in the field of radiation oncology need to continue to be proactive in being equal members of the oncology team guiding cancer care decisions throughout the continuum of care.
What prompted your decision to make a financial contribution to the Radiation Oncology Institute?
I have donated the honorariums I receive for any APEx survey I do to the ROI and do try to donate regularly. I decided that I wanted to increase my commitment to the ROI program when I saw the great work that is being done by our bright dedicated researchers who receive support from the ROI (including this year, one of our residents, Dr. Adam Wolfe – though I had donated before I knew he received the award).
What would you tell others who are considering a gift to the ROI? Why should they give to the ROI?
We are fortunate to be able to practice in this great specialty of radiation oncology and are well compensated. Supporting the ROI is one way to give back to our field and to those who are working to improve the care we provide.
We understand that you and your son ran in the 10th Annual ROI 5K in Chicago? Was this your first year running in the race? How was your experience?
I have run a few other times. It is a great time seeing all of the people come out to support the ROI and get a little exercise before the day starts. Plus, my son was visiting during the meeting, and he runs much faster than I do, so I thought I could bring in a ringer for OSU.
What are your hobbies and pastimes?
Hiking, bicycle riding, reading American history, presidential biographies and almost anything else.
