Martin honored by Women’s Leadership Council for mentoring students

Sandra L. Martin, PhD, has been selected to receive the 2011 Carolina Women’s Leadership Council Mentoring Award for student mentoring. Martin is professor of maternal and child health and associate dean for research at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Martin said she was thrilled to be honored with the award. “But I must admit,” she said, “that working with our public health students over the years has been such a pleasure, I feel a bit guilty about being rewarded for having such a wonderful time!”

 

Martin joined the maternal and child health faculty in 1990, and since 2004, has served as the department’s associate chair for research. She attended McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and anthropology, graduating summa cum laude, and a Master of Science in epidemiology and biostatistics. She earned a doctorate in epidemiology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a postdoctoral fellow at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute.

 

Martin’s research, teaching and public health service focus on the health of women and children, with particular attention paid to the role that violence plays in their lives. Much of her research has examined violence during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with investigations concerning the extent of such violence, risky health behaviors (such as substance use) associated with this violence, and screening for violence within health care settings. In addition, she has been involved in a variety of other studies concerning violence in the lives of women, such as adolescent dating violence, women’s obtainment of domestic violence protective orders, violence in military families, and development/evaluation of a national violent death reporting system.

 

“Dr. Martin embodies the definition of a truly outstanding mentor,” says Siobhan K. Young, MPH, maternal and child health doctoral student at the public health school. “She is always willing to go above and beyond for students whether it is through teaching, collaborating on research, counseling on academic and/or career decisions, or providing emotional support. She is a tremendous asset to UNC and her students. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be among her advisees as both a master’s and doctoral student.”

 

The Carolina Women’s Leadership Council, established in 2007, claims as its members nearly 200 women leaders from all walks of life, who have a number of philanthropic interests at UNC. Individually and collectively, the Council supports every area on campus through contributions of time and/or funds. As a unit, the Council formally supports the Eve Carson Distinguished Lecture Series and the Faculty Mentoring Award.

 

Martin will accept the award at a reception on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.

UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Ramona DuBose, director of communications, (919) 966-7467 or ramona_dubose@unc.edu.