July 16, 2025

501 - Gastroenterology with Dr. Victoria Martin, MD, MPH

32 minutes

Dr. Carole Keim talks with Dr. Victoria Martin, MD, MPH, a gastroenterologist, a specialist who focuses on everything related to the stomach and intestines in babies. Dr. Martin trained in pediatrics and became interested in what happens in baby intestines, especially early on, during training. She talks with Dr. Keim about things like blood in a baby’s stool, protein allergies, signs of food allergies in children, and what to look for at home for signs of intestinal distress. She differentiates between what might be cause for concern versus what is normal for infants regarding reflux, breastfeeding, constipation, and more.

Dr. Martin explains normal reflux in babies and what to try at home before getting to a doctor’s appointment in regards to concerns about too much spitting up. She and Dr. Keim discuss food allergies in infants, common concerns over what allergens are transferred from a mother’s breastmilk, and why there are things to consider before immediately eliminating foods from a mother’s diet if an allergy is suspected. Food allergies, causes, and substitute formulas are discussed, and Dr. Martin shares insights into possibilities for preventing the development of allergies, when to introduce solid foods, and what a baby’s poop reveals about the baby’s health. It’s an episode full of practical advice and in-depth knowledge from Dr. Martin about babies’ intestinal functions.

About Dr. Victoria Martin, MD, MPH:

Dr. Martin graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Biology. She completed her medical school and residency training in Pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She then completed her fellowship training at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in the division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, during which she was awarded the Outstanding Teaching Award by the pediatric housestaff. She also completed a Master's degree in Public Health in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Martin's clinical and research interests include the developing infant microbiome and its potential role in gastrointestinal food allergic diseases, including allergic proctocolitis and eosinophilic esophagitis.

Resources discussed in this episode: