Joao Martins

Joao Martins, MD, is a specialist in general and family medicine. He has practiced medicine since 2019, completed his residency within Portugal's National Health Service. He sees patients of all ages, from newborns to older adults. Sports medicine is a distinct strand of his practice: postgraduate training at the University of Porto Faculty of Medicine, and several years as a team doctor in professional football.

In-person consultations in Lisbon, online consultations and home visits · children from birth and adults · consultations in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Portuguese Medical Association professional license: 66727.

About the Doctor

A family doctor is the person you can come to with any complaint, without working out in advance which specialist to book. Dr. Martins works this way: he looks at the whole situation rather than an isolated symptom, and takes on the navigation — which tests are genuinely needed, what can be resolved on the spot, and when a specialist should be brought in.

He cares for entire families, including children from their first weeks of life, and follows the same patients over years. His experience with a squad shows in how he consults: he wants to know how a person lives, moves, and recovers, not only what hurts today.

Education and Experience

Dr. Martins earned his medical degree at Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, studying from 2011 to 2018. He then completed general clinical internship training within the Ministério da Saúde: in Vila Nova de Famalicão and at Centro Hospitalar Senhora da Oliveira in Guimarães, with a family medicine rotation at USF Vimaranes. From 2022 to 2026 he completed his residency in general and family medicine at USF Vitasaurium in Soure.

In 2022 and 2023 he completed postgraduate training in sports medicine at the University of Porto Faculty of Medicine. From 2025 to 2026 he was a doctor at F.C. Famalicão, covering the senior squad during training camps and Liga Portugal matches, as well as the academy's under-19 and under-23 teams. Since 2026 he has been sports medicine doctor for the senior squad at G.D. Chaves.

Common Reasons Patients See Dr. Martins

Acute conditions: fever, cough, sore throat, colds and flu, gastrointestinal infections, cystitis, earache. Ongoing management of chronic conditions — high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, lipid disorders, thyroid conditions, asthma — with treatment selection and regular follow-up.

Children from birth: routine check-ups and developmental assessment, vaccination on schedule, frequent colds, fever, cough, gastrointestinal infections, rashes, and questions about feeding and sleep. A sick child can usually be seen the same day, and for a high fever the doctor can come to your home.

Unclear symptoms, when it isn't obvious which specialist to see: prolonged fatigue, weight loss, headaches, dizziness, disturbed sleep. Pain in the back, joints, and muscles, including pain related to training or desk work.

Prevention according to age and risk factors: laboratory tests, cardiovascular risk assessment, vaccination. Interpretation of tests done abroad, and second opinions. Among patients who recently moved to Portugal, a frequent request is to transfer treatment started elsewhere onto Portuguese medications and regimens — without having to work out the Portuguese healthcare system on your own.

Physical Activity, Sport, and Recovery

He also handles questions a standard consultation rarely reaches: clearance for physical activity before starting training, pain and overload in recreational runners, gym-goers, and cyclists, returning to activity after injury or illness, and sleep and recovery.

Documents and Medical Certificates

Prescriptions, referrals, and sick leave certificates are issued during the appointment. The doctor also provides medical certificates for driving license renewal, fitness-to-play certificates for sport and competition for adults and children, and health certificates for work and school. No separate visit to another specialist and no referral are required.

What Happens During the Visit

The doctor asks about your symptoms, lifestyle, past illnesses, and current medications, examines you, and reviews previous test results. Where needed, he orders laboratory tests, an ultrasound, or an ECG — all of which can be done at the clinic the same day. He then explains what is happening in plain language and sets out a treatment and follow-up plan.

How to Book an Appointment

Appointments are available at the clinic in Lisbon, online, and at your home, with or without health insurance, with or without a referral. You can book through the form on umc.clinic, via the website chat, on WhatsApp, through the Telegram bot @umcl_bot, or by phone. Same-day slots are often available.