Kelsey Martin, DO ‘23 
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

May 22, 2023

Kelsey Martin, DO ’23, has been named the recipient of the Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal, the College’s highest student honor that recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the College, the community and the osteopathic profession.

The award will be presented at the awards reception on May 22, just prior to commencement on May 23.

Exceeding her goals

Student doctor Martin’s accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but among her activities are:

• Volunteering as the regional camp director of Camp Cardiac and Camp Neuro with the camps held on campus during the summer following Martin’s first year of medical school. She explained that more than 60 high school and college students participated in educational and interactive sessions pertaining to neurology and cardiology, increasing their interest in pursuing careers in health care.
• Serving as the director of the Doctor for a Day conference since 2021, an annual event through the Young Physician’s Initiative exposing 100+ high school and college students to valuable advice, mentorship, networking opportunities and insight into pursuing a career as a physician. “Hosting the event on campus this year with 200 registrants and the help of faculty and medical students, and resident and attending physician volunteers was incredibly special and it has been the highlight of my medical school experience thus far,” Martin said.
• Representing the institution at the annual DO Day on the Hill event in Washington DC, as a delegate representing her region. “This event enabled me to connect with students from all over the country, meet my representatives in person and advocate for pertinent issues surrounding the osteopathic medical community,” she said.
• Serving on the local level as the Student National Medical Association community service chair, and nationally on the SNMA orthopedic surgery interest group and clinical shadowing and mentorship program executive boards. “My involvement in the Student National Medical Association has been extremely influential in shaping me into the budding physician I am today,” Martin said.
• Serving as an anatomy teaching assistant, peer tutor and peer mentor have contributed to her passions for teaching and mentoring. She is also heavily involved in multiple mentorship organizations. “Educating the next generation of physicians is something I hope to implement in my career and these campus teaching opportunities have helped to provide the necessary experience and motivation to further pursue this passion,” she said.
• Numerous community volunteer engagements, not limited to working with Hosea Helps, a local organization geared toward offering meal and medical services to vulnerable populations; serving with the CHOP Homeless Health Initiative providing free health screening services and health education workshops at homeless shelters in Philadelphia; coordinating and volunteering with the Clarkston Community Health Clinic; and volunteering overseas with FIMRC at Project Alajuelita, a medical clinic providing free medical services to a large Nicaraguan refugee population.

Martin said, “Attending PCOM Georgia has allowed me to far exceed my goals. I was able to be involved in several leadership, teaching, research, volunteer and educational opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have been able to accomplish had I attended another institution. I am grateful I was able to make a substantial impact not just on campus, but to the broader community.”

An accomplished former gymnast, dancer and classically trained flute player, Martin was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia where she performed with the UGA Georgettes and the UGA Dance Dawgs. She fondly recalls performing for the 2018 National Football Championship.

Pursuing an orthopedic surgery career

Her dance career, which started at the age of two, resulted in multiple injuries, which served as a catalyst for her interest in pursuing orthopedic surgery as a career. Between her third and fourth years of medical school, she completed a focused year of orthopedic surgery research where she was able to participate in 25 projects and more than 40 publications and presentations.

Starting in July, Martin will reside in Philadelphia where she will begin residency training “to pursue my dream of being an orthopedic surgeon, a dream I’ve had for several years,” she said.

Martin was inspired to pursue a career in health care from childhood by “hanging around my mother’s clinic.” Her mother, Felicia, is a geriatrics specialist who has practiced for 30 years.

“I was aware of the fact that she was able to make a substantial difference in patients’ lives on a daily basis, and I was able to see the impact that those in health care make in their communities,” she said.

She said, “My parents are the most hard-working, selfless people I know, and while growing up, their influence has contributed to me trying to emulate their drive to gain a successful and fulfilling career.”

“I am someone who was also aware of prevalent health disparities and the need for more healthcare professionals in underserved communities early in life. With even further clinical exposure, this awareness has served as a fundamental catalyst for me to pursue a career as a compassionate, driven physician dedicated to serving these communities.”

A desire to become a well-rounded physician

Martin’s goal at the start of her medical school journey was to become a physician who would serve her patients in the best possible way. She chose the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program “because I wanted to not only gain the fundamental tools to become the best physician I could be, but I wanted a unique, patient-focused, holistic approach to learning medicine so that I could graduate as a competent, but sufficiently well-rounded physician.”

She chose to attend PCOM Georgia due to its proximity to her family and friends, scholarship opportunities, opportunities for involvement, and her overall feel for the program during her interview day.

“Medical school is a tough, expensive process,” she said, “and having a vital support system nearby, financial assistance, being in a positive environment, and opportunities for other outlets definitely make the difference to success, so the choice to attend was easy in retrospect,” she said.

Martin is a recipient of the J. Steven Blake Scholars Society Scholarship and the Board of Trustees Scholarship. She was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi National Osteopathic Honor Society, the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Phi Chi Medical Fraternity.

Advice learned along the way

She leaves behind the following advice for premedical students.

“The absolute best thing you can do for yourself, no matter how successful you are thus far in the journey, is to reach out and find a mentor and an advocate. Find someone to offer you the necessary tools for success, and someone that can uplift you and truly believe in your success. Also, believe in yourself, and find within your worth and your ‘why,’ and be able to articulate that to a prospective mentor. If you believe in yourself, it is a lot easier to convince others to do the same, especially medical school admissions committees.

To medical students—

“Remember that medical school is going to be one of the most challenging and frustrating times of your life, but it is not your entire life. Try to figure out what your passions are to make the most out of your medical school experience and know that living a balanced life and taking breaks to remember your ‘why’ will be extremely beneficial to your progression through this process.”