UTMC physician assistant receives 20 Under 40 Leadership Award

December 11, 2014 | Features, UToday, — Health Sciences, UTMC
By Amanda Benjamin



Each year, leaders in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan are honored with the 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award for contributions to their community.

Martino

Martino

Sara Martino, a physician assistant in the Emergency Department at The University of Toledo Medical Center, is a recipient of one of the 2014 awards.

Martino was nominated for the award by Katie Bush, a nurse in the UTMC Emergency Department, who has worked with Martino for four years.

“Sara’s very driven and inspiring,” Bush said. “She juggles a lot — being a full-time mom, full-time worker and full-time volunteer.”

Bush said Martino was the reason that she decided to join the Junior League.

“She deserves the award,” Bush said. “She’s one of our leaders. She does a lot for others without asking for anything in return.”

Martino exemplifies the 20 Under 40 Award through her extensive community involvement. She has worked with the Junior League for eight years and currently serves is sustainer representative to the Volunteer Resources Council and has served as the nominating and placement chair and board secretary.

One Junior League event that Martino was especially proud to be part of was Kids in the Kitchen, where children learn how to eat healthy and exercise.

“I think that giving back to the community is one of the best things I can do,” Martino said. “I want my kids to see how important it is to give back and be involved in the community.”

Saying Martino is involved in the community is an understatement. She is:

• The Chi Omega representative for the Northwest Ohio Panhellenic Chapter;

• President of the Woodland Parent’s Club;

• Member of the executive board for Perrysburg Amateur Baseball/Softball Commission;

• Popcorn chair for Perrysburg Cub Scouts Pack 110; and

• An annual volunteer for Toledo’s Tent City.

In addition, she previously served as Region 5 director of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants for three years and sat on the Governmental Affairs Committee, and was treasurer and vice president of the Northwest Ohio Chi Omega Alumnae Association.

For her efforts, Martino has received the 2014 UT Services to Students Award in 2014, and the UT Health and Human Services Young Alum Award at Homecoming in 2013. She also has been recognized by Toledo Parent News as the January Yark Mom in 2012 and was the 2012 recipient of the Junior League of Toledo’s Power of Woman Award.

In addition to being involved in her community, Martino is on UTMC’s Infectious Disease Team, which includes staff specially trained to care for infectious patients.

“I love UTMC,” Martino said. “I’ve been working here since I was 19 years old. When I come here, it’s like a second home.”

Martino received a bachelor of science degree in exercise science from UT; a master’s degree in health education and promotion from the UT, Bowling Green State University and MCO consortium program; and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from UTMC. She is working on a doctorate in health education at UT and expects to finish that in fall 2015.

Martino lives in Perrysburg with her husband, Lenn, and three sons: Andrew, 7, Jacob, 6, and Benjamin, 1.

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