My passion is to educate and empower patients and caregivers so their healthcare journies are safer, better in quality, and much easier to navigate. I wrote my first book, Critical Conditions, after my mother and godmother were patients in hospitals for 5 and 7 months. They both died there. I realized there was no handbook for loved ones to navigate the complex and frustrating hospital system. Critical Conditions won 15 book awards and was featured in Publishers Weekly, Prevention Magazine, Woman's Day,. Family Circle and more.  I wrote my second book, The Take-Charge Patient, after I'd suffered with a 16-month severe chronic pain condition. After 10 misdiagnoses, my research led me to my own diagnosis and the surgeon to heal me. I have been pain free for 3 1/2 years. I interviewed over 400 doctors, nurses, other medical professionals and patients for both books.  I lecture to the general public about the same topics in my books and offer a patient toolkit to help patients and caregivers organize their medical information and to provide sample questions for doctors. It is free on my website.  Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} You can read my published articles on KevinMD, ParentGiving, The Alzheimer's Foundation magazine, and more. I have been interviewed on NBC Nightly News, KCAl9/CBS News, NPR, Prevention Magazine, and many more.  I have a master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a certificate in patient advocacy from UCLA. I am also a profesisonal, private patient advocate consultant to patients and families. 

The Take Charge Patient won 18 book awards. Critical Conditions won 15 book awards.
Martine earned a certificate in patient advocacy from UCLA.
She is in the Psi Chi honor society for high achievement in her masters degree program in psychology.