Benson (Ben) Bennett Martin, Jr., VMD, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, died March 18 at the age of 68 following a long illness.
Martin was a pioneer in equine sports medicine and specialist in surgery, working his entire 34-year veterinary career at New Bolton Center, the large animal hospital of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet).
Martin was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, on October 8, 1946, to Benson Bennett Martin and Janeth (Nancy) Martin, who preceded him in death. He graduated from Fairfield Prep and served in the United States Navy in Vietnam. He graduated from the University of Connecticut, and in 1980, was awarded his VMD from Penn Vet. After completing an internship and a large animal surgery residency, Martin became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
He had a long and distinguished career as a faculty member at New Bolton Center, specializing in equine sports medicine and serving as the director of the Jeffords High Speed Treadmill facility and the Equine Performance Clinic. During the majority of his career, Martin was an integral member of Penn Vet’s Admissions Committee and mentored many veterinary students. He retired from the faculty as an associate professor of equine sports medicine in July of 2014.
