Sun Devil Soccer alum’s journey to the surgical suite

By Sam Valenti, ASU Media Relations Intern

Growing up, Casey Martinez was never bothered by blood.

“When my brothers and sisters would get hurt on the playground, I would help fix them up. If they got splinters, I was the first one to volunteer to take the tweezers and help them remove the splinters. My first exposure to medicine was through my dad, an orthopedic PA. I would often ask for stories about the patients he cared for and ask to go to work with him.”

So it should be no surprise that Martinez will soon be graduating from the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona. After graduation, the native of Towson, Maryland will be heading back east to the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School for her six-year plastic surgery residency. Pursuing a career as a surgeon was a leap of faith for Martinez, whose journey has been full of perseverance.

Before working in the surgical suite, her office was the soccer field. Martinez played at Duke, where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. Her Blue Devil playing days were cut short when she missed all of her senior season due to a meniscus tear. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Martinez found other ways to contribute.

“Even though I couldn't participate physically, I was still very much involved and trying to become a leader in a different way than what I was used to. Learning how to really dig in deep and celebrate others’ successes was a huge win for me in life. The silver lining was finding my voice and how I can best impact those around me, even when my own scenario isn't the most ideal.”

While losing out on her senior season was not ideal for Martinez, it opened up opportunities to continue her playing career and advance her education. She considered staying at Duke, but started looking elsewhere for the master’s program that would best fit. As it turned out, she had maroon and gold connections.

“The biggest draw was my aunt (Courtney Martinez Connor), who was the ASU lacrosse coach, and she inspired me to reach out to Coach Winkworth. I quickly realized this could be a really awesome opportunity.”

Martinez decided to take her talents to Tempe and obtain her master’s degree in Integrated Healthcare. While she was unsure about how the transition would go, Martinez credits her team for making her feel right at home.

“I felt like my teammates and coaches created such a family environment that really helped in my transition. It helped me be myself on and off the field in this new space.”

Just like at Duke, Martinez faced an injury at Arizona State. Towards the end of her season with the Sun Devils, she suffered another meniscus tear that forced a change in plans.

“I was about to send out my highlight reel to scouts and potentially enter the draft for the league in the U.S., and then I had to pivot. I always wanted to go into medicine, just after playing professional soccer. I loved the healthcare space, and my master's degree at ASU really affirmed that. However, I wanted to go for the patient care side of things.”

After some nudging from mentors, friends and family, Martinez decided to enroll in the remaining prerequisite classes and take the MCAT to start her med school application process.

“It was a huge financial and time investment where I really had to bet on myself. I realized that I would regret not putting myself out there much more than getting rejected admission to med school. I thankfully had some really awesome people around me who encouraged me to take that extra leap of faith and believe in myself. I'm extremely grateful because I wouldn't be here if I didn't submit that application to begin with.”

Reflecting on her journey, Martinez recognizes the parallels between high-level athletics and the medical profession. In fact, studies have shown the propensity for elite athletes to go into surgical practice, in particular.

"The discipline, grit, and leadership I cultivated on the soccer field have been invaluable in my medical training," Martinez notes. "Attributes like embracing failure as an opportunity for growth, being coachable, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable are as essential in surgery as they are in sports."

Now, as she looks forward to the next chapter in her career, Martinez credits ASU for changing the trajectory of her life.

“I think that it was an integral stepping stone to me being where I am today. Being a student-athlete in Tempe put Mayo Clinic Arizona on my radar in the first place. I owe a lot to Arizona State and my coaches there, who took a chance on me and gave me a scholarship to play there. The community has really lifted me up throughout my whole journey to where I am today.”