The Man Behind the White Coat and Stethoscope

Working in the medical field is intensely involved. Not only is the work particularly demanding, and it can take a physical and mental toll. However, for many doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, the impact of the work is fulfilling. 

For a community, the healthcare workers there are instrumental in that community’s health. They help us during the start of life and through some of its most challenging moments. As those in healthcare are such an integral part of our lives, we should take the opportunity to remember they are people too. They have families and friends, face trials and tribulations, and are members of our communities. Dr. Eddsel Martinez is one example of a healthcare professional dedicated to his community and the health and well-being of Winnipeg’s children and youth.

Finding one’s purpose in life can be a challenge. That one thing you feel you are just meant for. As a paediatrician, Dr. Eddsel Martinez has found just that. What sets Martinez apart as a healthcare professional is his ability to connect with his patients and their families. Both patients and parents highly regard him, as he strongly emphasizes meeting his patients’ needs emotionally and physically. Dr. Martinez ensures that all his patients receive the best possible care and attention, regardless of their condition or circumstances.

“I read that one teacher can change someone’s trajectory. I thought, could I do that with a child or teenager to listen to them? A lot of paediatrics is more than medicine in the traditional sense, like giving an antibiotic. A lot of it is psychology, being empathic, and reaffirming, which I initially didn’t think I would be doing in the office, not just with the patient but with the parents. Empowering the parent, empowering the mom, letting them know it’s okay if you’re depressed and it’s okay if you don’t want to do this every day. I didn’t know I would have to do that and found it increasingly rewarding.” 

But he’s more than just a doctor. He’s a father, husband, and lover of fantasy. Martinez didn’t initially consider his path would lead him to become a doctor, believing he would follow in his father’s footsteps. 

“My dad is in business, and I thought, okay, I’ll just go into business. But I think it was kind of a reflexive thing. I held onto that for years and years, and that was in high school. But I was always good at science and maths. I have an affinity for it, and I was kind of drawn to it.”

It was when Martinez read a book by Scott Peck, ‘People of the Lie, ‘ which set him on a path toward psychology and eventually becoming a paediatrician. 

Martinez says life has been incredibly rewarding as a husband, as a father, and as a doctor. One of his most exciting moments recently has been reliving old media he enjoyed as a kid with his children. “It’s like seeing it again for the first time.” Next time you see a healthcare professional, remember to say hello, as you never know the story that led them to where they are today.

– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural