Andreina
Martinez Paulino
MD
education
Medical School: Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo
Residency: Rutgers Health/Jersey City Medical Center
biography
Dr. Martinez Paulino was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, where she also worked as a physiology teaching assistant, an experience that helped shape her interest in medical education. Before residency, she served as the sole primary care physician for a rural underserved community in her home country. She managed a broad spectrum of conditions with limited resources and served as an advocate and source of continuity for her patients.
She went on to complete her internal medicine residency at Rutgers Health/Jersey City Medical Center, where she cared for a diverse urban population and further deepened her longstanding interest in rheumatology through hands-on clinical care, teaching, and research focused on complex autoimmune diseases.
Her academic interests include medical education, health equity, and patient-oriented research in rheumatic diseases. As a future rheumatologist, she aims to integrate thoughtful clinical care with teaching and research to help patients navigate chronic autoimmune conditions with clarity, confidence, and a path toward healing.
Outside of medicine, Andreina enjoys baking flans and oreo cheesecakes, dancing, traveling to new places, trying new foods, collecting sand and seashells from beaches she visits, and watching sunsets - though she is also the friend who lovingly manages the travel itinerary and makes sure everyone is awake by 6:00 AM to catch the sunrise.
Why Rheumatology?
"I chose rheumatology because it brings together the parts of medicine that most inspire me, and because the field feels deeply personal. My interest began long before residency, shaped by watching loved ones face the uncertainty and limitations of rheumatic disease. I saw how difficult it can be to live without clear answers, and how transformative it is when a physician truly listens, connects the pieces, and offers both clarity and hope. Those early experiences stayed with me and continue to shape the way I care for patients.
During training, I was drawn to the diagnostic complexity of rheumatology: the need to listen closely, recognize subtle patterns, and think across organ systems while building meaningful long-term relationships with patients. Rheumatology is where my curiosity meets my calling."
Why UW?
"I chose the University of Washington because, from my very first interactions, UW felt like a place where academic excellence and genuine humanity coexist. I was struck by the warmth of the faculty and fellows, the intentional mentorship, and the sense that people here are deeply invested in one another’s growth.
I was also drawn to the program’s strong clinical training, diverse patient population, specialty clinics, impactful research, and flexibility to tailor fellowship toward my goals. UW’s commitment to caring for underserved communities across the WWAMI region aligns closely with my own path and values. I also felt welcomed in a very personal way when faculty and fellows visited my poster at ACR, a small gesture that left a lasting impression. I am excited to train in a program that combines rigor, compassion, community, and purpose, and to explore the mountains, beaches, and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest."