The Auburn Alumni Association recognized its inaugural 20 under 49 young alumni who embody and demonstrate Auburn University values and spirit through their accomplishments and societal impacts in their everyday lives. Assistant Clinical Professor Dr. Chris Martin was one of 20 alumni recognized by the association.
Chris Martin graduated from Auburn in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Beginning his career as a coronary care nurse, Chris developed a passion for nursing and graduated from Samford University with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2015. Later in 2015, he helped launch Hospitalist Services of Alabama as its founding director. In 2016, Chris began serving as Cardiac Clinical Excellence Coordinator at Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, successfully guiding the facility through Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology. Chris was later promoted to Director of Nursing Education and Staff Development where he successfully re-established the Nursing Education Department and oversaw a 200% increase in nursing recruitment activities. In 2018, Chris was recognized as the Grandview Medical Center non-clinical manager of the year. Today, Chris is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Auburn University College of Nursing where he sits on the Undergraduate Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee and chairs the Diversity & Inclusion committee. In 2020, he was voted Outstanding Faculty Member by graduating seniors. In April 2022, Chris successfully defended his doctoral dissertation for the PhD in Nursing Education and Administration at William Carey University. Now known by his students as “Doc Martin,” he is blessed to be able to teach and mentor the next generation of Auburn nurses. An active member of the American Association of Men in Nursing, he is also a member of SIGMA International Honor Society for Nursing, the Auburn Alumni Association, and the Alumni Advisory Council for the Auburn University College of Nursing. Chris is happily married to Jennifer, who is also a nurse, and a loving dog dad to their golden-doodle Blanche. Chris enjoys traveling, Auburn sports, and good food.
"I am excited for Chris to be honored as one of the 20 under 40," said Dr. Caralise Hunt, associatie dean for academic affairs at the College of Nursing. "I taught Chris as an undergraduate student, and it has been such a pleasure to see him grow and develop in his role as a registered nurse and now a faculty member."
Martin's Favorite Auburn Memory: Being in the Auburn University Marching Band during the amazing 2010 National Championship football season.
Fun Fact: As a child, I struggled with a stutter while speaking. Thanks to a great team of speech language pathologist, I learned different techniques to speak clearly. Now as a professor, I pretty much get paid to talk to students every day.
