Turning pain into purpose: Heather A. Martin named inaugural maternal mental health navigator at Dartmouth Health Children’s, the first in pediatrics in the U.S.

Heather A. Martin started her career with Dartmouth Health Children’s as a medical assistant at Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinics Manchester. She had a passion to help children and their families, to be a friendly and compassionate support to patients and their parents in what can be a stressful situation.

Today, she continues that mission as Dartmouth Health Children’s maternal mental health navigator—the very first, not just at her employer, but at any pediatric practice, hospital or health system in the United States.

“This work is very personal for me, and comes from a place of deep pain—and that’s what makes it so important,” Martin said. “When a mother tells me, ‘You saved my life’—and it happens frequently—I know this is a critical service for women and their families, and only makes me want to work harder and do more.”

Nearly 16 years ago, Martin’s sister, Jennifer, died by suicide just a few weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, her first and only child. Martin, her family and Jennifer’s medical providers now know she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness that can develop shortly after childbirth, characterized by a significant disconnect from reality and, often, suicidal ideation and attempts.

“My sister was vibrant, spiritual, and a passionate teacher who loved yoga. She was so excited to become a mom and loved being pregnant,” Martin said. “Her daughter was born healthy and beautiful. But within a few weeks, something changed for my sister. She didn’t want to hold or feed her baby. She had a lost stare on her face that I will never, ever forget.”

Out of grief for the loss of her sister came a mission to stop this tragedy from occurring in other families. Martin proposed and implemented a screening and response process for new mothers bringing their infants for check-ups at her practice, to determine if the mother is in need of mental health supports.

“A new mom may be too tired or frazzled to make herself a priority, even missing her own medical appointments—but she’ll never miss appointments for her baby,” Martin said. “By meeting mom where she is—in pediatrics—we can not only observe her and how she is with baby, we can hand her an iPad to easily and privately answer questions that help us determine if she needs help, and get her that help if needed.”

Along the way, Martin became increasingly involved in maternal mental health awareness and advocacy at the state and federal level. She has met extensively with New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation, championed the proclamation of Maternal Mental Health Week in New Hampshire in 2024 and 2025, and has been a driving force behind the “MOMnibus” and “MOMnibus 2.0” state Senate bills to expand Medicaid access to New Hampshire women.

Now, she’s pivoted to advocacy full-time as Dartmouth Health Children’s inaugural maternal mental health navigator. Working out of pediatrics in the Manchester and Bedford clinics, Martin identifies and coordinates the supports new moms and their families need, including therapy, behavioral healthcare, primary care and OB-GYN providers, doulas, support groups, and more. She’s also expanding the mental health screenings she started in Manchester, and educating her Dartmouth Health Children’s colleagues about the importance of perinatal mental health.

“So far it’s just me, but I’m looking forward to building a team of navigators who can provide this critically needed support to women throughout the Dartmouth Health system—and, eventually, be a model for similar programs around the country,” said Martin, whose position was grant-funded by Dartmouth Health Children’s philanthropy. “I’m fortunate to have the support of Erik M. Shessler, MD, assistant medical director of general pediatrics here in Manchester, along with many other Dartmouth Health Children’s staff and wonderful partners around the state.”

This past weekend, Martin was honored with the Trailblazer Award at the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation’s annual gala. Despite the tremendous recognition of her work, and building a new job role and program from the ground up, Martin says she is just beginning.

“We must not lose this opportunity for New Hampshire and beyond,” she said. “This is our moment to let our moms know that they are our priority, and we will never stop until every mom, no matter who she is or where she’s from, feels supported by all of us, and that they are not alone.”