Kenia Martinez, MD

Dr. Kenia Martinez has been a primary care pediatrician at CHI since July 2012. She is also a faculty member of The Brodes Hartley Jr. Teaching Health Center at CHI.

From a young age, she admired children’s innocence and honesty. Dr. Martinez always knew she wanted a career in pediatrics. Her fascination and love for children grew over time and as a young adult, she strived to find ways to positively influence their lives.

When she became a new mother and was overwhelmed by other people’s advice, she turned to her pediatrician. Her son’s doctor became the only person whose advice she would follow to raise her child in a healthy way. Her own life and educational experiences have helped her engage parents in doing what is best for their children.

Dr. Martinez understands how difficult it is to make time each day to ensure children brush their teeth, eat healthy foods, and stay active. However, she also knows there is nothing as satisfying as having healthy children who pick their own vegetables to eat at dinner, behave wonderfully in school, excel in class, and return home eager to do their homework, read and learn.

“My own life and educational experiences have helped me encourage parents to do what is best for their children, which is ultimately what they all desire,” she said.

Although she was accepted at her hometown medical school in Camaguey, Cuba, she migrated to the United States In 1995 even before finishing her first semester. She learned English and worked full-time while completing an associate’s degree at Miami Dade College and then a bachelor’s degree at Florida International University.

During her undergraduate years, she volunteered at Miami Children’s Hospital, where she met many children on the neurology floor. Her hospital volunteer experience showed her first-hand the joys of helping children in need; putting a smile on faces that had been saddened by sickness. 

She graduated in 2008 from the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency program at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2011.

In her spare time, her hobbies include dancing, reading, yoga and Zumba. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is fluent in Spanish and English.