Lee esta historia en español. | Read this story in Spanish.
“To just be able to communicate with somebody in your language is so important.” -Sergio Martinez
Sergio Martinez is one of the 37 students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2028 at UNC Chapel Hill. As a retired U.S. Army veteran, first-generation college student, and multilingual advocate, Martinez brings more than two decades of service and a lifelong commitment to communication into his pursuit of physical therapy. Throughout his life, language has been more than a skill—it has been a bridge to connection, care, and community.
Martinez’s parents came to the Los Angeles, California from Mexico in the late 1970s. When Martinez was born, his parents were living in a small, cramped apartment, which they later moved from. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household, led to Martinez to being enrolled as an ESL (English as a Second Language) student in elementary school. By the fourth grade, however, he was excelling academically.
By early high school, Martinez knew he wanted to pursue a career in the military. During his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Originally, he hoped to become a linguist, but the position was only available for reservists. In order to serve full-time on active duty, Martinez joined as a communications specialist for the first three and a half years of his career, until he was given the opportunity to change career paths.
Martinez didn’t want to give up his dream of using his language skills, “I basically begged them to use me in my language skills,” he said. “They said, ‘Well, how do you feel about learning a language?’ And I said ‘I think that would be awesome. I would love to learn a new language.’” At that time, the Army needed Arabic, Chinese, and Korean linguists; Martinez chose Korean. That decision led him to attend a 63-week language program at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Despite learning a language entirely foreign to him—from the alphabet to grammatical structure—Martinez completed the program and became a Korean linguist, a testament to his perseverance and resilience.
Martinez served a total of 20 years in the U.S Army, spending time in the Middle East, Arizona, Colorado, and eventually North Carolina, where he completed his final assignment with special operations in 2016. In 2021, Martinez officially retired from the Army. During his time in North Carolina, he met his wife, and they have since settled in Fuquay-Varina with their two children.
Martinez’s path to physical therapy was shaped largely by his own experiences as a patient. Like many service members, he sustained multiple injuries over the course of his career. Beginning in his early twenties, he developed chronic lumbar spine issues that required years of physical therapy. Through consistent treatment, Martinez not only recovered physically but was also able to sustain the second half of his military career—transitioning into leadership roles while remaining capable of keeping up with the soldiers he led.
“I don’t think I would have made it 20 years without people helping me along the way…, with physical therapy being one of the aspects that I attribute to my longevity,” said Martinez.
As he approached retirement, Martinez began considering a second career in healthcare. With a family background rooted in medicine—his father served as a medic in the Mexican Army, his mother worked as a dental assistant, and his wife practices as a nurse practitioner—healthcare felt both familiar and meaningful. While he briefly considered becoming a physician assistant, physical therapy stood out as the path most aligned with his values and experiences.
Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household, Martinez knew he wanted to be the bridge between underserved communities and accessible, high-quality healthcare—particularly for Spanish-speaking patients who often face language and knowledge barriers when seeking care. Reflecting on his childhood, Martinez shared, “Growing up, I was a very sick kid, and I remember my mom being stressed out about it because we didn’t have a lot of money or resources. But the one thing we did have was a pediatrician who spoke Spanish, and that was a huge deal to us.” Knowing firsthand the impact of being understood, Martinez hopes to one day be that person for someone else.
Now a student in UNC’s highly ranked Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Martinez views his acceptance into the Class of 2028 as a moment of validation. Out of hundreds of applicants, being selected as one of 37 students affirmed that his years of service, preparation, and perseverance mattered. As a first-generation college student, Martinez carries that responsibility with pride—not only for himself, but for his parents and children. He hopes his journey models a lifelong commitment to service, learning, and giving back.