Rep. Mike Levin Honors COVID-19 Frontline Trauma Surgeon as his Constituent of the Month

Dr. Matthew Martin (third from the left) with his colleagues at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York City.

San Juan Capistrano, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) announced that Dr. Matthew Martin, an Army veteran and local trauma surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital, is his Constituent of the Month. In early April, Dr. Martin flew to New York City to support medical staff treating patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the hard hit Jacobi Medical Center. See below for Rep. Levin’s statement recognizing Dr. Matthew Martin in the Congressional Record:

“Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Dr. Matthew Martin, a local Army veteran and trauma surgeon at Scripps Mercy Hospital, as my Constituent of the Month for May. The novel coronavirus has swept through our country, leaving devastation in its path and particularly hitting the residents of New York City. When a colleague reached out asking for more hands on deck at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Martin did not hesitate to volunteer.
 
“After five deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Martin certainly recognizes the call to serve. Upon arriving to the front lines of America’s coronavirus epicenter, the former Army doctor saw a New York City hospital that was overwhelmed and overrun. Every day, Dr. Martin and his new team risked their own health to treat others, even as the virus claimed the lives of fellow health care workers.
 
“Despite the hardship he confronted daily, Dr. Martin found inspiration in the resolve and resilience of his new colleagues and did not lose sight of the battle. Since returning to San Diego, Dr. Martin brought back with him the determination he saw in his New York colleagues and a goal to ensure our community never experiences the level of devastation he found during his time at the Jacobi Medical Center.
 
“I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to make our region and our country a stronger place for everyone to live and thrive. As our nation faces this unprecedented health crisis, there are countless first responders and essential workers in California’s 49th district who deserve our gratitude and recognition. Today, I am proud to recognize Dr. Martin as well as the courageous team at the Jacobi Medical Team, whose selflessness to join the fight in saving lives is inspiring. I am honored to recognize Dr. Matthew Martin as my Constituent of the Month, and I thank him not only for his service to our country, but also for joining the fight to combat this global pandemic.”
 
Representative Levin’s Constituent of the Month program recognizes outstanding North County San Diego and South Orange County Residents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and make the country stronger. Levin’s Constituent of the Month for April was Tej Patel and his team at Fluxergy, a local company developing rapid COVID-19 testing. His March Constituent of the Month was Esther Sterling, a Holocaust survivor living in Reata Glen Rancho Mission Viejo. His February Constituent of the Month local veteran Robert “Bob” Moore, one of the nation's first African American men to serve in the Marine Corps and last surviving Montford Point Marine.
 
To nominate a resident of the 49th District to be the Constituent of the Month, fill out this nomination form.