Hugo R. Martinez, MD
Surgeon (Pediatric) | Pediatric Cardiology
51 N Dunlap St FL2 #369 Memphis TN, 38105About
As a Pediatric Cardiologist, I specialize in diseases of the heart in growing and developing individuals providing 360-degree patient care alongside extensive research and teaching aspects.
As an Assistant Professor at the Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), I promote the education of pediatric cardiology to students, residents, and other trainees in the cardiovascular field. I also perform these duties throughout the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system, at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and numerous other national and international associations in the field of cardiovascular medicine.
Clinically, as a Faculty Member of the Advanced Heart Failure Program at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital for the past four years, I have participated in the medical care of patients who have required cardiac transplantation and artificial blood circulation via mechanical pumps due to advanced and unmanageable cardiac disease.
In 2019, I initiated the Cardiovascular Genetics Outpatient Service at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. This valid service offers essential information on diagnosing heritable cardiovascular disease and identifying at-risk family members, determining reproductive risks, and speculating on the potential insight into long-term prognoses.
At St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I proactively participate in developing preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies for children and adults with cancer who are susceptible to premature cardiovascular disease.
My research interests cover gene discovery for various forms of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, cardio-oncology, novel drug investigation in heart failure, and studies sponsored by the medical industry. As a result, I have authored 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts and delivered over 50 lectures both nationally and internationally. I am at the forefront of publishing new research related to cardiovascular disease. My investigational work has been published in reputable journals and academic books as well as being presented at conferences around the world.
I strive to promote the essential developments which underpin the delivery of world-class medical science and look forward to seeking out new ways to tackle heart disease.
Education and Training
UPAEP Doctor of Medicine 2003
ECFMG Doctor of Medicine 2008
UTMB Pediatric Residency 2014
Texas Children’s Hospital Transitional Ped Residency 2014
Indiana University Health Pediatric Cardiology 2017
CCHMC Heart Failure and Transplant 2018
Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla MD 0
Board Certification
American Board of Pediatrics
Provider Details
Hugo R. Martinez, MD's Expert Contributions
Does heart failure require a transplant?
Not necessarily. It depends on the nature causing your disease. Traditionally, heart failure syndrome is managed with oral medications. If it advances, you may require hospital-based cardiac support, which may include the administration of intravenous medications. If despite of all these therapies your health deteriorates, you may be a candidate for a mechanical pump (Ventricular assist device) or a heart transplant. READ MORE
What is the healthiest diet for high blood pressure?
A plant-based diet READ MORE
Can I get the COVID vaccine if I have high blood pressure?
yes READ MORE
Expert Publications
Data provided by the National Library of MedicineAreas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology The University of Tennessee Health and Science Center 2018 - Present
- Consulting Cardio-Oncologist St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 2018 - Present
- Medical Director, Cardiovascular Genetics The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital 2021 - Present
- Co-Director Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital 2021 - Present
- Assistant Director Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Program The Heart Institute at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital 2020 - Present
- Medical Co-Director of the Heart Failure, VAD, and Transplant Program Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease -
- Medical Director Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence -
- Pediatric Cardiologist Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease -
- Associate Professor Dell Medical School Department of Pediatrics -
- Chair International Cardio-Oncology Society’s Pediatric Group -
Awards
- Junior Scientist Research Award 2021 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital / Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
- The Suzanne P. Murphy Funding Research Award 2015 Riley Hospital for Children
Professional Memberships
- Heart Failure Society of America
- American Heart Association
- American College of Cardiology
- The Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Pediatric Group of the International Cardio-Oncology Society
Fellowships
- Riley Children’s Hospital/Indiana University Health Cardiology
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center advanced cardiac disease and transplant cardiology
Areas of research
My research interests cover the landscape of cardiovascular genetics, heart failure, cardio-oncology, novel drug investigation in heart failure, and studies sponsored by the medical industry.
1. Wittekind S, Martinez HR, Bacon M, and Lorts A. Profound Iron Deficiency Anemia and Irreversible Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Child. Case Reports in Cardiology, vol. 2019, Article ID 7513782. PMID: 31687217
2. Martinez HR, Miller E, Mead R, Osher J, Almasri M, Parent J. Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy with Severe Dilated Phenotype in a Family with a Novel MYH7 Gene Variant. Journal of Pediatric Cardiology. ppedcard.2020.101205. ISSN: 10589813
3. Fahnhorst S, Beasley G, Goldberg J, Martinez HR, Ryan K, Towbin J, Boston U, Absi M. Novel Use of Cangrelor in Pediatrics: A Pilot Cohort Study Demonstrating Use in Ventricular Assist Devices. Artif Organs. 2020; 00: 1– 8. PMID: 33180355
4. Hugo R. Martinez, MD; Ralph Salloum, MD; Erin Wright, MD; Lauren Bueche, MHA; Philip R. Khoury; Justin T. Tretter, MD; Thomas D Ryan, MD Echocardiographic Myocardial Strain Analysis Describes Subclinical Cardiac Dysfunction after Craniospinal Irradiation in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Central Nervous System Tumor. Cardio-Oncology Journal. 2021 Feb 2;7(1):5. PMID: 33531084
5. Stephanie Ghaleb, Sammuel Wittekind, Hugo Martinez, David Witte, MD; Jennifer Kasten, Clifford Chin. Antithymocyte globulin induction therapy and myocardial complement deposition in pediatric heart transplantation. Pediatr Transplant. 2021 Mar 11:e13998. PMID: 33704881
6. Martinez HR, Beasley GS, Noah Miller, Goldberg JF, Jefferies JL. Clinical Insights into Heritable Cardiomyopathies. Frontiers in Genetics. 2021;12(650). PMID: 33995492
7. Goldberg JF, Peters EJ, Tolley EA, Hagler MN, Joshi VM, Wallace SE, Nouer SS, Beasley GS, Martinez HR, Ryan KA, Absi MA, Strelsin JR, Towbin JA, Triplett BM. Association of persistent tachycardia with early myocardial dysfunction in children undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation 2021. PMID: 34017071
8. John L. Jefferies, Wojcieich Mazur, Juan C. Plana, Daniel Mulrooney, Jeffrey Towbin, Hugo R. Martinez, Melissa M. Hudson, Gregory T. Armstrong. Cardiac Remodeling After Anthracycline and Radiotherapy Exposure in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the St Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. CNCR33860. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.33860. PMID: 34411296
9. Martinez, Hugo R., Gary S. Beasley, Jason F. Goldberg, Mohammed Absi, Kaitlin A. Ryan, Karine Guerrier, Vijaya M. Joshi, Jason N. Johnson, Cara E. Morin, Caitlin Hurley, Ronald R. Morrison, Parul Rai, Jane S. Hankins, Michael W. Bishop, Brandon M. Triplett, Matthew J. Ehrhardt, Ching-Hon Pui, Hiroto Inaba, and Jeffrey A. Towbin. 2021. Pediatric Cardio-Oncology Medicine: A New Approach in Cardiovascular Care. Children 8, no. 12: 1200. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8121200
10. Chet Villa, Scott R Auerbach, Neha Bansal, Brian F Birnbaum, Jennifer Conway, Paul Esteso, Katheryn Gambetta, E. Kevin Hall, Beth D. Kaufman, Sonya Kirmani, Ashwin K Lal, Hugo R. Martinez, Deipanan Nandi, Matthew J O'Connor, John J. Parent, Frank J Raucci, Renata Shih, Svetlana Shugh, Jonathan H. Soslow, Tununguntla, Carol A Wittlieb-Weber, Kathi Kinnett, Linda Cripe. Current practices in treating cardiomyopathy and heart failure in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): Understanding care practices in order to optimize DMD heart failure through ACTION. Pediatric Cardiology. PEDC-D-21-00800. Accepted: 17 December 2021
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Bringing Expertise in Cardiovascular Genetics and Heart Failure Management to Austin’s Premier Pediatric Heart Program
A prominent pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Martinez is affiliated with the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease in Austin, Texas. In his pivotal roles as Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Genetics Program and Medical Co-Director of the Heart Failure, VAD, and Transplant Program, he enhances the center’s commitment to providing comprehensive, cutting-edge care for children with congenital heart conditions.
An Associate Professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Pediatrics, he specializes in cardiovascular genetics and has a distinguished career dedicated to advancing pediatric cardiovascular care. He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla in Puebla, Mexico, before completing a pediatrics residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch. His advanced training includes a fellowship in cardiology at Riley Children’s Hospital/Indiana University Health and a fellowship in advanced cardiac disease and transplant cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Before joining the Texas Center, Dr. Martinez held prominent leadership positions at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His innovative contributions include the development of a mechanical circulatory support service line, a cardio-genetics clinic, and a cardio-oncology program. He has also served as the Medical Director of the Pediatric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence and Co-Medical Director of the Heart Failure and Transplant team, reflecting his commitment to excellence in pediatric cardiac care.
Dr. Martinez’s clinical and research interests focus on cardio-oncology and cardiovascular genetics. He has been a clinical researcher for the cardio-genetics team at Texas Children’s Hospital, participating in numerous studies aimed at combating heart failure, exploring cardio-genomic profiles, and assessing therapy-related cardiovascular dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors. His expertise has made him a sought-after leader in the field, and he has served as an editor for a textbook on mechanical circulatory support while being elected Chair of the International Cardio-Oncology Society’s Pediatric Group.
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