Innovator Spotlight: Richard Martin
October 24, 2024
Richard Martin, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine.
How do you describe your work to people who don't work in your field?
As a family doctor, my work really is ‘any care, anywhere, to anyone at any time’. The goal is, in essence, to provide all care from before birth throughout life to patients and their families. In my new role as the regional academic lead for the new U of A medical degree campus in Grande Prairie (the Northern Alberta Medical Program), my responsibility is to develop the program ‘nuances’ which will distinguish it from the main campus program and get the program operational by the arrival of the first students in late August 2025.
What's one big problem you want to solve through your work?
All of us can see the gaps in medical care that exist across our province, most acutely in the places smaller than and farther from the large cities. I want the Northern Alberta Medical Program to be a national leader in educating young doctors with the expanded skills and confidence to provide care to anyone, anywhere. I want this program to be the capstone in the archway of health service provision across every rural and remote community of Alberta and beyond.
What does the word "innovation" mean to you?
For me, innovation is the creativity, energy and perseverance that allows questions to be answered and problems to be solved. Leveraging innovation for the betterment of people and their communities is my vision of “Leading With Purpose.”
What's been your biggest a-ha moment — in life or work — so far?
I would like to say it was when I truly figured out how magnets work, but I am still slightly vague on those details. The ‘a-ha’ moment with the greatest impact on my life was discovering that, while patients want to be cured of disease, the most important thing to almost all patients and families is feeling that someone truly cares about them. It is relationships that form the foundation of health and wellness which are the key to recovery and healing.
How do you or your team come up with your best ideas?
Our team thrives on conversation and the opportunity to simply ‘throw ideas at the wall’, as this can help catapult the nascent thoughts of team members onward to be the catalyst for grand ideas and vision.
What's your favourite thing about working at the U of A?
Hands down, it is the team. The energy, passion, desire for improvement and self-expectation of meeting the needs of real people in real places, all work to create the environment for success in the shared mission.
Do you have a role model at the U of A? How have they influenced you?
Dr. Jill Konkin stands out as being the mentor, colleague and friend that combines the true essence of leadership. Her encouragement, dedication to leading by example and critical challenge of norms, has been necessary to help push me through complacency or the feeling of powerlessness when confronted by the sometimes enormous challenges in health care. Had I paid closer attention during undergraduate genetics courses, I would be closer to being able to clone her.
In Shape: The University Strategic Plan, the University of Alberta commits to having a positive impact on our students and staff, our communities and the communities we serve here in Alberta and around the world. How does the work you do create impact?
Being a doctor in a smaller community is a complete alchemic mixture of privilege and responsibility. From a bedside to a boardroom to a basketball game, our work impacts all areas of our communities — from individuals to families, to schools, to sports and cultural groups, to municipal decisions and beyond. I am proud and honoured to be so closely interconnected with the lives of people and my community, with the continued hope this creates lasting benefits.
What's next for you? Do you have any new projects on the horizon?
Now that it is fall, cleaning the garage! That aside, further development of the Northern Alberta Medical Program is a worthy project to invest all my energy. Then … maybe the storage room in the basement …
About Richard Martin
Richard Martin is a proud alumnus of the U of A MD Class of ‘91. He began his career as a family physician in Whitecourt, Alberta and currently works in Grande Prairie, Alberta. As most do, Richard has worn many hats throughout his career including doctor, teacher, administrator, regulator and leader. His most important hats remain as a husband to Kim and father to Ethan, Ben and Miriam.
Innovator Spotlight is a series that introduces you to a faculty or staff member whose discoveries, knowledge and ideas are driving innovation.
Do you know someone at the U of A who is transforming ideas into remarkable realities? Maybe it’s you! We are interested in hearing from people who are helping shape the future, improving quality of life, driving economic growth and diversification and serving the public. We feature people working across all disciplines, whether they are accelerating solutions in energy, shaping the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence or forging new paths in health and Indigenous leadership.
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