Gregory J. Martin
Encyclopedia
Captain Gregory J. Martin, M.D., is an American medical doctor and Captain in the United States Navy
. Martin is a recognized expert in the fields of infectious diseases and bioterrorism
.
in 1980 and M.D. from the Georgetown University School of Medicine
in 1986. Martin completed both his Internal Medicine Internship from 1986 to 1987 and his Internal Medicine Residency from 1989 to 1991 at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. And he completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center
between 1991 and 1993.
In 2002, the United States Secretary of the Navy
conferred the Legion of Merit
Award upon Martin for his pivotal role in the five-month investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks
as well as his role as the on-site infectious disease physician on Capitol Hill during the attacks and the treatment of the staff of Senator Tom Daschle
in the aftermath of the attacks. Having served as the principal investigator for the anthrax vaccination protocol set up by the Centers for Disease Control following the attacks, he is also the lead author of a study of the clinical and immunologic responses to anthrax exposure.
In 2003, Martin led the military medical team that examined and cared for the United States Marines ill with malaria contracted while spending two weeks ashore in Liberia
. More than 40 service members from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who were deployed to Liberia
in support of Joint Task Force Liberia
became sick aboard two Navy ships, the USS Carter Hall
and the USS Iwo Jima
. Fearing worse, Martin's testing efforts ruled out contagious diseases, like Lassa Fever
or Ebola
which have much-higher mortality rates.
Martin is currently the director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) at the Uniformed Services University (USU). Previously, he served as Assistant Dean for Special Programs at USU, focused on the development of graduate courses and training in weapons of mass destruction. He also was the Infectious Disease Program Director at the National Naval Medical Center
and Walter Reed Army Medical Center
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Martin is a recognized expert in the fields of infectious diseases and bioterrorism
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form. For the use of this method in warfare, see biological warfare.-Definition:According to the...
.
Biography
Martin received his B.S. in Biology from Fairfield UniversityFairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in 1980 and M.D. from the Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine, a medical school opened in 1851, is one of Georgetown University's five graduate schools. It is located on Reservoir Road in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, adjacent to the University's main campus...
in 1986. Martin completed both his Internal Medicine Internship from 1986 to 1987 and his Internal Medicine Residency from 1989 to 1991 at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. And he completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
between 1991 and 1993.
In 2002, the United States Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
conferred the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Award upon Martin for his pivotal role in the five-month investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks
2001 anthrax attacks
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to...
as well as his role as the on-site infectious disease physician on Capitol Hill during the attacks and the treatment of the staff of Senator Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
in the aftermath of the attacks. Having served as the principal investigator for the anthrax vaccination protocol set up by the Centers for Disease Control following the attacks, he is also the lead author of a study of the clinical and immunologic responses to anthrax exposure.
In 2003, Martin led the military medical team that examined and cared for the United States Marines ill with malaria contracted while spending two weeks ashore in Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. More than 40 service members from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel. The MEU consists of four major parts: a command element,...
based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, who were deployed to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
in support of Joint Task Force Liberia
Joint Task Force Liberia
Joint Task Force Liberia was a joint task force formed from August to October 2003 in response to the crisis that developed during the Second Liberian Civil War. The on-going civil war destabilized the area and created a large number of refugees as rebel forces closed in on Monrovia and took over...
became sick aboard two Navy ships, the USS Carter Hall
USS Carter Hall (LSD-50)
USS Carter Hall is a Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship to be named for Carter Hall, an estate near Winchester, Virginia, built in the 1790s....
and the USS Iwo Jima
USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)
USS Iwo Jima is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.Fabrication work for Iwo Jima began at Ingalls shipyard on 3 September 1996, and the ship's keel was laid on 12 December 1997. She was launched on 4 February 2000. USS Iwo Jima was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, wife of General...
. Fearing worse, Martin's testing efforts ruled out contagious diseases, like Lassa Fever
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria, in the Yedseram river valley at the south end of Lake Chad. Clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade but had not been connected...
or Ebola
Ebola
Ebola virus disease is the name for the human disease which may be caused by any of the four known ebolaviruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus , Ebola virus , Sudan virus , and Taï Forest virus...
which have much-higher mortality rates.
Martin is currently the director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program (IDCRP) at the Uniformed Services University (USU). Previously, he served as Assistant Dean for Special Programs at USU, focused on the development of graduate courses and training in weapons of mass destruction. He also was the Infectious Disease Program Director at the National Naval Medical Center
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
and Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center was the United States Army's flagship medical center until 2011. Located on 113 acres in Washington, D.C., it served more than 150,000 active and retired personnel from all branches of the military...
.