Kelsey Martin, MD, is a hematologist and oncologist who practices at the Smilow Cancer Care Center in Orange.
Dr. Martin’s interests include general hematology (the treatment of blood disorders), hematologic disorders in women and pregnancy, cancer prevention, geriatric oncology, as well as the role of nutrition, obesity, and the environment in cancer.
“One of the things I enjoy about hematology is that it often requires a little detective work and putting together a puzzle to figure out what is going on with my patient, so I can make them feel better,” she says.
Dr. Martin says she was always curious and interested in science growing up. “I wanted to understand the ‘why,’ and the people-focused aspect of medicine won me over,” she says. “I came to oncology because of all the exciting things happening in the field, including treatment developments. There are many positive things happening, and I feel the future is bright in terms of the care we can deliver.”
When it comes to her relationship with patients, Dr. Martin says she takes pride in her listening skills. “I try to spend a lot of time with each patient, to be thorough, detail-oriented, and to listen to what they say,” she says. “I make strong efforts to explain the complexities of their medical problems, so that my patients understand them. These can be hard conversations and it’s important to get to know patients on a personal level. I try to take care of the whole person. It’s not just the disease.”
