Sonia Rivera-Martinez, DO graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1983 from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, P.R. She worked for many years as a Corporate Controller and Internal Auditor before re-entering the college arena to complete her required pre-medical courses. In 2002, she earned a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology (NYCOM/NYIT) in Old Westbury, NY. Dr. Rivera-Martinez completed her internship and family medicine residency at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, NY, where she received the Intern of the Year Award in 2003 and Chief Residency Award in 2005.  During her residency Dr. Rivera-Martinez completed the Training in Policy Studies (TIPS) program, a national program that was created to provide osteopathic physicians in training (residents) experience in the process involved in the development of health policy at the federal and state levels. After working for 4 ½ years as an Attending Physician for the Department of Family Medicine at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Jamaica, NY, she returned to NYCOM in April 2010 as an Assistant Professor in the Family Medicine Department. Early in her osteopathic medical career, she set several goals for herself, which include expanding the public’s knowledge of Osteopathic Medicine through research and advocacy, teaching medical students the art of osteopathic medicine and educating patients about healthy lifestyles.

In keeping with her goals, Dr. Rivera-Martinez has been very active furthering Osteopathic Medicine through leadership roles in various national, state and local organizations and committees.  She serves as President of the New York State Osteopathic Medical Society (NYSOMS), President-Elect for the New York State Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), on the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO), Chair for the AAO Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee, Chair for the ACOFP Osteopathic Research Committee, and member of several other national committees. In addition, she serves as Treasurer and Past-President of the NYCOM Alumni Association and is a member of the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Rivera-Martinez avidly seeks opportunities to impart knowledge to the community on disease prevention and health maintenance and to advance osteopathic research. She has given numerous lectures on health related topics at local community outreach centers and health fairs. Currently, she is actively spearheading research projects at NYCOM in collaboration with other faculty members of the Family Medicine department. Several of her papers and abstracts have been published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association and The American Academy of Osteopathy Journal, and she has given presentations on her research topics at local, national and international events, receiving multiple awards for these presentations. She is a contributing author of An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment, 3rd edition and editor of The Collected Writings of Robert G. Thorpe, D.O., F.A.A.O.

In her roles as Attending Physician and Assistant Professor, Dr. Rivera-Martinez provides patient care at the Academic Health Care Center at the Old Westbury Campus and Family Health Care Center in Central Islip and precepts osteopathic medical students during their clinical rotations at these sites.  Additionally, she is course coordinator for the Doctor-Patient-Relationship Endocrine and Musculoskeletal systems courses, ICC simulator instructor and OMM facilitator.