Helena A. Santos-Martins, MD

My family and I moved to Boston seven years ago, and I started the search for a doctor who would work with me. Dr Santos-Martins was highly recommended to me by a nurse practitioner at the first medical center I went to. Little did I know that the entire course of my healthcare was about to change. And, no, I'm not overstating that! Meeting Dr Santos-Martins would be a turning point in my life. Over the years I had been diagnosed with auto immune disease, clinical depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and the list goes on. In short, all of the things that we, as women fear because we are often told (or it's implied) that it's psychosomatic. I hesitantly made an appointment with her (I had to wait a while for an appointment because so many patients wanted to see her!), and finally got to see her. I was pleasantly shocked that she had actually read my chart before walking into the room. She was warm and professional and genuinely cared about what I had to say. She listened to me, helped me prioritize the health issues I was having, and made an action plan to address them. She actually knew the specialists she was referring me to. She had a holistic interest and approach to my health care, so we also addressed exercise and nutrition issues. It was a lot to cover in a short amount of time, so I made a follow-up appointment. After a few years as her patient in the regular healthcare system, Dr Santos-Martins let me know she was moving to a MDVIP practice. One of the top reasons she wanted to move into an MDVIP practice was to give her patients a better level of care. She and her patients would benefit from operating within a practice that allowed her to have ample time and resources to invest in her patients. I signed up as soon as I could. Walking into her new office that first day, I could see that she had created a warm, inviting, and peaceful environment. Her staff were helpful, professional, and competent. My appointment with her that day was three times the length it normally would have been at the medical center. We were able to go more in-depth with my current health issues and establish an even better action plan with her new resources. As my health challenges have continued, Dr Santos-Martins has been right here with me through this journey, listening, advising, advocating, and encouraging. Her level of personal care, dedication, and commitment to her patients goes above and beyond. A few examples: Her personally calling multiple pharmacies to see who had an over the counter medicine I needed and having them hold it for me, her taking time to consider not just what specialist would be able to handle my current health concern, but who would work best with me, her consistently following up with me via phone call when I'm sick (which is often), her hosting free classes and workshops with nutritionists and other specialists for her patients, her actually being concerned for me as a whole person (mom, wife, career, interests, etc.) so she can better understand my healthcare needs.
I feel seen, heard, and safe with Dr Santos-Martins as my doctor. I'm no longer afraid that my physician will be dismissive of my health concerns, not have enough time for me, or time to deal with them thoroughly. I have wholeheartedly recommended Dr Santos-Martins again and again to friends, colleagues, and people I have met. I am so very thankful for her dedication to and care for me and her other patients. Not only is she improving our lives, but by extension, the lives of our families and the people connected to us. From my heart, thank you Dr Santos-Martins!

My family and I moved to Boston seven years ago, and I started the search for a doctor who could work with me and my ongoing health issues and challenges. I had Dr Santos-Martins recommended to me by a nurse practitioner at the first medical center I went to. Little did I know that the entire course of my healthcare was about to change. And, no, I'm not overstating that! Meeting Dr Santos-Martins would be a turning point in my life. Over the years I was diagnosed with auto immune disease, clinical depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and the list goes on. In short, all of the things that we, as women fear, because we are told that it's psychosomatic. I made an appointment with her (i had to wait a while for an appointment because so many patients wanted to see her!), and finally for to see her. I was pleasantly shocked that she had actually read my chart before walking in the room. She was professional, but warm and obviously genuinely cared about what I had to say. She listened to me, helped me prioritize the health issues I was having, and made an action plan to address them. She actually knew the specialists she was referring me to. Also, she had a holistic interest and approach to my health care. We addresses exercise and nutrition issues. It was a lot to cover in a short amount of time, so I made a follow-up appointment. After a few years Dr Santos-Martins let me know she was moving into a MDVIP practice. One of the top reasons was that she wanted to give her patients a better level of care by operating within a practice that allowed her to have ample time and resources to invest in her patients. I signed up as soon as I could. Walking into her new office that first day, I could see that she had created a warm, inviting and unhurried atmosphere. Her staff were warm, professional, and competent.
My appointment with her was three times the length it would have normally been at the medical center. We were able to go more in-depth with my current health issues and establish an even better action plan with her new resources. My health challenges continue and Dr Santos-Martins has been right here with me through the journey, listening, advising, advocating, and encouraging. Her level of personal care, dedication, and commitment to her patients goes above and beyond. A few examples: Her personally calling multiple pharmacies to see who had an over the counter medicine I needed and having them hold it for me, her taking time to consider not just what specialist would be able to handle my current health concern, but who would work best with me, her consistently following up with me via appointment or phone call when I'm sick (which is often), her hosting free classes and workshops with a nutritionist and other specialists for her patients, her actually being concerned for me as a whole person (mom, wife, career, interests, etc.) so she can better understand my healthcare needs.
I feel seen, heard, and safe with Dr Santos-Martins as my doctor. I'm no longer afraid that my doctor will be dismissive of my health concerns or not have enough time for me or time to deal with them. I have wholeheartedly recommended Dr Santos-Martins again and again to friends, colleagues, and people I have met. I am so very thankful for her dedication to and care for me and her other patients. Not only is she improving our lives, but by extension, the lives of our families and the people connected to us. Thank you Dr Santos-Martins!

In October 2020 I was pre-opting a patient for the OR at 2 AM in a PACU in Salem mass. He was confused and had Alzheimer’s. It was early in COVID-19 and took several hours to get a test results back and with a broken hip he needed surgery immediately. while trying to keep him from climbing out of his stretcher, he sneezed in my face and I acquired Covid through my eyes four days later. I was very sick and too stubborn to go to the ER. four days later my MDVIP doctor called me five times in one day to coerce me into the ER. Definitely positive post five days in the hospital and acquiring long Covid. My doctor has kept me alive and living my life, even five years into long Covid. I wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t so diligent about nagging me the day I didn’t wanna sit in the ER for 10 hours with 95 other patients. She’s the reason I’m still here.There have been many speed bump along the way navigating these five past years. She always thinks outside the box and never drops the ball. My only complaint is she won’t take time off for herself. I’ve never experienced medical care like this before.

Since Dr. Santos has been taking care of my health care, my life has changed drastically. She is kind, sweet, warm, professional, on task, and overall an excellent practitioner. Totally satisfied not only with my personal health, b\ut also with my husband and mother. Staff are courteous and on top of things..
Highly recommend her to family and friends.