Martin is the former Chief of Surgery at Carney Hospital and parishioner at St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Roxbury. He is known for his work and advocacy for quality healthcare for all, especially the poor and the disenfranchised. He has provided kind and compassionate care for many people in the former Columbia Point Housing Project, health centers, and the Bridge Over Troubled Waters Van, which provides free healthcare throughout Greater Boston. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1982 and also specializes, and is board certified, in internal medicine.