Dr. Ian B. K. Martin has been named the new dean and provost of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and chief executive officer of SIU Medicine, the school’s faculty practice. Martin comes to SIU from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where he served as eminent scholar, professor with tenure and system chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, as well as associate provost and senior associate dean in the office of faculty affairs and leadership.
After earning degrees from Duke University, the Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina’s Keenan-Flagler Business School, Martin completed residency training in emergency medicine and general internal medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center and R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. He later served as chief resident there. Before joining the Medical College of Wisconsin, Martin served in progressive leadership positions as a faculty member at Duke University School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and West Virginia University School of Medicine.
Martin will be the fifth dean of the SIU School of Medicine, succeeding the retiring Dr. Jerry Kruse.
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job?
I was born in Washington, D.C., but spent most of my time growing up in the suburbs on the Maryland side. My first job was at a hardware store, and I also stocked shoes at the Thom McAn shoe store in the mall.
What drew you to the medical profession?
I always had an interest in science and engineering, but I loved people, too. What moved me away from science and engineering into medicine was, unfortunately, when I lost my mother unexpectedly when I was 14 years old. I recall that feeling of helplessness, and, at that point, I said to myself that while I couldn’t help my mother, I could help others in a similar situation.
How did you become interested in the SIU School of Medicine position?
I was approached by a firm that was handling the search for the SIU position. When I read the prospectus about the opportunity, it immediately spoke to me for a couple of reasons. The opportunity to simultaneously serve as the provost for the campus, the dean of the medical school and the chief executive officer of the faculty practice is a highly integrated and rare way to construct a leadership role. I think this really allows for nimbleness and leadership within an organization, and that was very attractive to me. The other was that SIU is clearly a mission-driven organization, and that spoke to a lot of the things that I value in leadership and healthcare.
How can we teach medical students to relate to a population that often gets erroneous and harmful advice on healthcare from social media?
It’s a matter of exposure. I think SIU has done a great job of this, getting our students outside the four walls of the school and into the community so they can meet people where they are, understand the challenges that face them and why they believe the things that they do. Once you do that, you’re in a much better position to be able to shape those things for our patients and provide better care.
Do schools of medicine need to encourage medical students to serve under-served and rural communities, and if so, how can that be done?
The unequivocal answer is yes. Often the areas of greatest need are rural environments. I think all medical schools should make it one of their priorities to attract and prepare students to practice in areas of need. One of the important ways you can do that is by providing early exposure to the actual community as part of the curriculum. Otherwise, if you’re not from a rural community, you may have a lot of misperceptions about what it means to live and work in those environments.
How has your experience with teaching emergency medicine prepared you to head a medical school like SIU?
Emergency medicine specialists are the front-line clinicians in the American health system, which is under tremendous strain. In many ways I get to see the very best and the very worst of humanity and healthcare. Our patients are some of the most vulnerable, and people who choose to specialize in emergency medicine are mission-driven folks. I think that having a background in taking care of our most vulnerable and in-need patients really aligns nicely with the culture and focus of a school like SIU.
How will you work to strengthen clinical partnerships with SIU School of Medicine?
Many local healthcare organizations, including SIU, have gone through leadership changes in the past year and a half, and many of the folks who have been appointed to the senior-most positions at these institutions have been attracted from around the country.
This presents a tremendous opportunity to bring new ways of thinking about healthcare in the region. I understand that a number of organizations like SIU really want to grow, and I think we can grow best if we grow together. There will be many areas in which we’ll collaborate with other organizations. That spirit of collaboration is a win-win for all of us, and especially for patients.
What does the future of healthcare look like for a region like central Illinois?
I think it’s bright. If we capitalize on some of those collaborations, I believe we can provide more critical services to patients in the region. An important role SIU can play is that we are the academic entity, which presents an opportunity to attract the best and brightest across all specialties. That allows us to provide the best clinical services in partnership with HSHS St. John’s, Memorial Health and others to further elevate the quality of care in the area. We really could make good on some of the promises and ideas that I’ve heard from leaders of these other organizations.
Do you intend to become involved during your non-working hours in the Springfield community?
I don’t know how many non-working hours the dean, provost and CEO really has, but the answer is yes. I have been very engaged in the Milwaukee community on local boards like the Milwaukee Tennis and Education Foundation that uses tennis to teach life skills to at-risk, inner-city youth. I have also been involved with the Milwaukee Urban League. I am most proud of my six years of volunteer service on the city of Milwaukee Board of Health. I was honored by the mayor who proclaimed July 23, 2026, as Dr. Ian B.K. Martin Day. I can’t wait to see how I can fit into and serve the Springfield community.
What may people be surprised to learn about you?
I fashion myself a bit of a Renaissance man. Science and medicine are a left-brain activity, but I’m a right-brain person, too. I love languages and the arts, and I’m a painter myself.
This article appears in September SBJ 2026.