Dr. Joe Martin PT, DPT, OCS, didn’t start out as Dr. Joe Martin, in fact, Joe grew up in Whitesboro, NY in a household stricken by poverty, alcoholism, and a broken family. At age 11, he entered a home for troubled children, The House of Good Shepherd, and resided there for 2 years before returning to the mainstream community. He believes that the House of Good Shepherd was an excellent experience and his Mom chose this structured programming for him at the right time. Subsequently, Joe moved to Frankfort, became a good athlete, developed some excellent friendships, graduated High School, and went directly into the Military. Joe excelled with high honors, earned the Top Physical Fitness Award, and served tours in Saudi Arabia and Iraq as an M1A1 Tank driver. Joe remains a very proud veteran of the United States Armed forces, but didn’t stay in the Military after his tours because he wanted to pursue a career in Physical Therapy back home. He attended Herkimer County Community College, Utica College of Syracuse University, and he ultimately went on to earn his Doctorate at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Six months out of College, Joe took a Lead Physical Therapist position in Michigan and was tasked at bringing a low performing center back to life. He succeeded substantially and was awarded “Physical Therapist of the Year” out of 60+ Physical Therapists in the state of Michigan. While in Michigan, Joe invented some rehabilitation products and successfully sold them all over the United States and in Hong Kong. He authored and produced several dvd’s and a 30 minute tv Show. His roots and his family brought him back home to the Mohawk Valley in 2000, and after working a brief 2 years for a local company, Joe embarked on a mission to provide not only exemplary physical therapy services, but to serve all the people in CNY with love and kindness and compassion. To inspire people, lift people, and lead people. This is why he opened Function Better Physical Therapy in October of 2002 with his amazing wife and it has grown leaps and bounds since that day. He realized that his mission could not be carried out in its entirety without progressively hiring more and more “Amazing Human Beings” which he refers to as his team…..his staff…..his saviors. He is proud of himself and his accomplishments, but remains humble and appreciative of everything and everyone he has in his life. He attributes much of his success to his family who have always been there for him and to his Staff who he feels are “a cut above himself.” Function Better Physical Therapy now operates in 7 locations throughout central NY as far west as Syracuse, NY and as Far East as Herkimer, NY where it all began.
Dr Joe’s Guiding Principles as an Employer:
“The AMAZING human beings who work for me have a responsibility to give me their best……to give our collective clients, customers, and patients outstanding care…..and to progressively develop professionally for the good of all……But……Each and every one of them have a life outside of work, they have family and personal aspirations, they have problems and struggles….all of which DESERVE just as much of them as any job could ever demand. I genuinely LOVE my staff and I care deeply about their lives outside of work. I care about their families and their livelihoods. I don’t want them to struggle like I did growing up……I don’t want their children to struggle like I did growing up…..and while they have a responsibility to me….I too have a responsibility to them and their families. My staff knows this about me and that’s why Function Better will always offer the community the best, most caring and appreciative people…..because when they join our team…they want to stay and serve others and be a part of a company who, at its deepest roots, loves and cares for people beyond any skilled physical therapy it could provide.”
Positions: Founder & CEO