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Martin G. Paul

Martin G. Paul, MD

General Surgery

Minimally Invasive General Surgery

Gastrointestinal Minimally Invasive Surgery

Accepting New Patients
Online Booking
5.0 of 5 stars205 ratings, 79 reviews

Highlights

Languages

  • English

Gender

Male

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Martin G. Paul

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery

Background

Dr. Martin G. Paul is a member of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Johns Hopkins.  He has a wide range of expertise, including colon cancer/polyps, diverticulitis, gallbladder, and biliary tract disease, gastrointestinal surgery, adrenal tumors, splenic disorders,  hernia repairs, gastric cancer, and laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. 

Dr. Paul earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed a residency in general surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he received the Upjohn Award for outstanding teaching and clinical skills as a surgical resident. Dr. Paul then served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1988 to 1994, as Chief of Surgery and Deputy Hospital Commander of the 212th MASH.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  

After his military service, Dr. Paul returned to the Washington, DC area in 1994 and has been in practice at Sibley Memorial Hospital, which is now part of the Johns Hopkins Health System.  He served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Sibley and is now the Johns Hopkins Regional Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  He is also the director of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program at Sibley, which focuses on improving surgical care and outcomes after surgery. 

Dr. Paul was the recipient of a 2015 Johns Hopkins  Innovations in Clinical Care Award, and in 2019 he received the Johns Hopkins Physician of the Year award at Sibley. Dr. Paul has also been repeatedly named a Top Surgical Specialist in the D.C. area by Washingtonian Magazine and was specially featured in a Top Doctor issue for his expertise in laparoscopic colon surgery. Consumers’ Checkbook Magazine has named him one of the Best Doctors in America, selected by a consensus of physician colleagues as being among the top 4 percent of all physicians in his specialty.

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

  • Room for Improvement in Emergency Surgery Quality. MedPage Today (04/29/2016)

    Seven Deadliest Emergency General Surgeries. Chicago Tribune (04/28/2016)

    ‘Looming catastrophe’: These 7 emergency surgeries account for 80 percent of deaths and costs. Washington Post (04/27/2016)

    Several Greater Washington Hospitals Are Rethinking Pre- and Post-Surgical Care. Washington Business Journal (04/27/2015)

Research Interests

Improving Outcomes Following Colon Surgery in Elderly Patients

Selected Publications

  • Paul MG. The Public Health Crisis in Emergency General Surgery: Who Will Pay the Price and Bear the Burden?, JAMA Surg. 2016 Jun 15;151(6):e160640. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2016.0640.

  • Gould LJ, Wachter PA, Aboumatar H, Blanding RJ, Brotman DJ, Bullard J, Gilmore MM, Golden SH, Howell E, Ishii L, Lee KH, Paul MG, Rotello LC, Satin AJ, Wick EC, Winner L, Zenilman ME, Pronovost PJ. Clinical Communities at Johns Hopkins Medicine: An Emerging Approach to Quality Improvement. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2015 Sep;41(9):387-95.

Patents

  • Reinforcement Device with Dissolvable Layer and Its Use.,

    Development of a self-gripping mesh with dissolving outer layer for use in hernia repairs

    US Pat No. 8435307
  • Health Care Systems and Methods Using Voice Inputs.,

    Design of a system using far field microphone technology with voice recognition and artificial intelligence to control operating room equipment

    US Pat Nos. 1034725, 10650823

Honors

  • Best Doctors in America, Consumers' Checkbook
  • Top Surgical Specialist, Washingtonian Magazine
  • Top Surgeon, U.S. News & World Report
  • Top Surgeon, Castle Connolly
  • Vincent Gott, M.D., Professionalism Award, Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery, 1/1/21
  • 2019 Physician of the Year Award at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 7/1/19
  • 2015 Innovations in Clinical Care Award at Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, 1/1/15

Memberships

  • American College of Surgeons
  • Society Of Surgical Oncology
  • Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons
  • Society of Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Locations

  1. Sibley Memorial Hospital
    • 5215 Loughboro Road Northwest, Suite 210, Washington, DC 20016

    Expertise

    Education

    Georgetown University School of Medicine

    Residency, Surgery, 1988

    Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

    Medical Education, MD, 1983

    Board Certifications

    Surgery

    American Board of Surgery, 1989

    Insurance

    Johns Hopkins providers accept various commercial health insurance plans. However, they may not be included in all of an insurance company's plans or offerings. This may include Exchange, Medicaid, Medicare, and specific limited benefit plans. Exceptions to participation also exist based on your employer’s benefits package and the provider's location or specialty. Please contact your insurer directly to make sure your doctor is covered by your plan. For more details, please review our Insurance Information.
    Search plans
    • Aetna
    • CareFirst
    • Cigna
    • First Health
    • Geisinger Health Plan
    • HealthSmart/Accel
    • Humana
    • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
    • MultiPlan
    • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
    • Point Comfort Underwriters
    • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
    • UnitedHealthcare
    • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

    Ratings & Reviews

    5 out of 5

    205 ratings, 79 reviews

    The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    Overall Rating by Patient
    Average provider Overall Rating by Patient rating 4.9 out of 5 stars
    Provider Listened Carefully
    Average provider Provider Listened Carefully rating 5 out of 5 stars
    Provider Explained Things Clearly
    Average provider Provider Explained Things Clearly rating 5 out of 5 stars
    Provider Knew Medical History
    Average provider Provider Knew Medical History rating 4.9 out of 5 stars
    Provider Showed Respect
    Average provider Provider Showed Respect rating 5 out of 5 stars
    Provider Spent Enough Time
    Average provider Provider Spent Enough Time rating 5 out of 5 stars
    Search reviews
      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/19/2025

      Dr. Paul is outstanding. He has explained very clearly what I needed to know about my condition and his recommendations were very clear as well. I have great confidence in his expertise and admire his professionalism.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/17/2025

      It was a remarkable good experience. I complimented the receptionist as I left regarding the great professionalism everyone exhibited.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/17/2025

      Dr Paul is excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/10/2025

      Dr. Paul is a very outstanding doctor. I'm very thankful for the appointment, care and advice given.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/10/2025

      Dr Paul was kind, warm, respectful and responsive

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/29/2025

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/27/2025

      Great doctor

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/22/2025

      Very approachable. Explained things clearly

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/22/2025

      Dr. Paul is a excellent doctor listens to and cares about his patients.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/6/2025

      I believe Dr. Martin Paul literally saved my life. I could not be more grateful and appreciative of all of his help.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/23/2024

      Came to see Dr. Paul for a hernia as he is the recognized expert In this field.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/18/2024

      Both doctor and fellow provided good care, information and concern.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/16/2024

      Very good doctor

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/4/2024

      Dr. Paul was recommended to get a second a opinion on surgery. He was prompt, courteous and knowledgeable, had read the mri report I provided in advance (even though I provided he wrong report), examined me, answered all my questions and offered to answer any questions I might have after I left.

      4 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/4/2024

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/4/2024

      Dr. Paul is an attentive listner who answered my questions with clarity and patience, which I appreciated.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/2/2024

      Dr Paul removed my gallbladder. He ad well as everyone else's were nothing but nice and made me me very relaxed about procedure. Minimal amount of pain . Overall excellent outcome from provider

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/25/2024

      Excellent clinician

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/25/2024

      Dr Paul is fantastic! Explains things well!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/18/2024

      Very professional, courteous, helpful and comfortable experience

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/13/2024

      Doctors were polite, professional and knowledgeable.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/11/2024

      Dr Martin Paul has helped people I know and love including my brother who needed colon cancer surgery. I trusted him 100% and he proved this trust was well placed.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/6/2024

      Through my recent bout with cancer, Dr. Paul was the best of the many M.D.s I encountered. Informed, personable, concerned, and attentive to my care, pre-op and post-op. His retirement is John Hopkins', and medicine's loss. He and his assistants were encouraging, helpful, and, medically, very proficient. Surgeons without in-your-face ego. They, and Dr. Paul in particular, were a pleasure to deal with during a rough patch.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/28/2024

      My favorite doctor/surgeon

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/28/2024

      I am absolutely confident that I will receive the best possible care and outcome.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/23/2024

      Dr. Paul came highly recommended. I can see why. He was vey thorough, explaining the procedure that is necessary.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/23/2024

      Dr Paul explained emerging very well.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/21/2024

      Dr. Paul, unequivocally is top Best.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/21/2024

      Professional and caring

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/16/2024

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/14/2024

      Excellent, kind, willing to explain in knowledgeable way, as well as very efficient

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/9/2024

      Far exceeds expected standard of care. Professional but friendly demeanor.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/7/2024

      Dr. Paul is the kind of doctor that is often portrayed in movies: highly competent, very personable, and completely involved in the patient's problems(s).

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/7/2024

      Dr. Martin Paul was very good in explaining the procedure.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/2/2024

      Friendly and professional.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/2/2024

      This was a consultation concerning major surgery. Dr. Paul relieved my anxiety and gave me what I needed to make a decision.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 9/4/2024

      Dr Paul was a consummate professional.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 9/4/2024

      Dr. Paul is very gracious, patient, and experienced. I trust him with my healthcare.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 9/4/2024

      Dr. Paul is outstanding. He listens, explains things clearly and is empathetic and understanding.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/28/2024

      Dr Paul is outstanding, and fully merits his high reputation

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/28/2024

      First appointment with Dr. Paul. He listened, explained and gave me his time without rushing. Gave me a feeling of confidence in upcoming surgery

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/28/2024

      Excellent, very caring and very thorough

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/26/2024

      He is a marvellous surgeon.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/19/2024

      The doctor was excellent, very meticulous. And he explained the situation. He understood the issues.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/14/2024

      Amazing experience from front desk, to nurse to Dr Paul

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/7/2024

      Professional, took time to explain and answer questions

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/7/2024

      Dr. Paul was very thorough and explained exactly what was wrong and how to fix it. He has a great bedside manner. He was able to schedule me for surgery the day after my visit.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/31/2024

      Very knowledgeable and clear explanations regarding my problem

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/24/2024

      Dr. Paul is an excellent surgeon, explains things well, shows respect, and is a good listener. He takes the time to answer questions without making you feel rushed. His demeanor and professionalism are top-notch.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/24/2024

      Very knowledgeable, took time to go over my results with me

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/22/2024

      Most Courteous, Humble, Caring and Professional.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/17/2024

      Dr. Paul was an exceptionally knowledgeable and caring doctor. He performed a highly complex laparoscopic surgery with remarkable skill and precision. Throughout my recovery, he provided thorough follow-up care, ensuring that everything was progressing well. I highly recommend him to others-he is not only skilled and confident but also incredibly positive and compassionate. Truly one of the best surgeons ever.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/17/2024

      Dr Paul instills confidence in me that he is a subject matter expert, who is an attentive listener and very compassionate of all my concerns expressed. He was extremely instrumental in prioritizing my concerns and the manner in which they should be addressed.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/15/2024

      Full Confidence in Provider. Top rated by 2 other Doctors. Timely info about sex based differences related to medical issue. Exceptional !!!!!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/10/2024

      Dr. Paul is a skillful and knowledgeable surgeon with excellent people skills. Provided clear explanations of complex procedures.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 7/8/2024

      Very professional. Very knowledgeable.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/26/2024

      Dr Paul is both highly experienced/skillful and very personable. He takes the time to carefully explain everything. He is the best.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/26/2024

      Dr. Paul Is fantastic . Best surgeon and care team in the Washington area.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/24/2024

      Dr Paul was extremely skilled and the surgery was successful. I would recommend him to anyone needing hernia surgery

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/24/2024

      Except doctor personable bright clear explained all

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/24/2024

      Very knowledgeable and kind

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/17/2024

      Exllent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/10/2024

      Dr. Paul went above and beyond my expectations in every way. He was empathetic, had an extensive knowledge of my health and took every step possible to ensure my well being.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/29/2024

      Dr Martin Paul, one of the best doctors I've come in contact with at Sibley. Hard to get into see, for an appointment, but once in my CTScan was scheduled and surgery took place less than a week later.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/29/2024

      Dr. Paul is a very kind, caring, knowledgeable and professional doctor.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/22/2024

      During my post-op visit, Dr. Martin Paul and his team were thorough and answered all my questions with care.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/22/2024

      Excellent. Knowledgeable compassionate

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/13/2024

      Communicates well, is very knowledgeable has good judgemengao

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/13/2024

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/8/2024

      Good listener and perceptive questioner. Comfortably friendly, efficient and authoritative.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/8/2024

      Very comforting

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/8/2024

      Outstanding Service in every way.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/6/2024

      He immediately understood my problem and offered clear cut advice

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/1/2024

      Dr. Paul was outstanding. He is highly knowledgeable, courteous, listened carefully, made direct eye-contact, gave me excellent information about my condition and what I needed to do, and provided me with informative educational material to help me understand my condition and eventual need for surgical repair.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 5/1/2024

      Provider was excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/29/2024

      Warm caring physician that put at ease

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/24/2024

      Dr Paul was excellent in all ways!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/1/2024

      Dr. Paul is a superb surgeon in every sense.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/27/2024

      Exceptionally kind and professional doctor. Really took time to listen to my description of situation and asked excellent questions. Also did not push immediate treatment as it was not necessary, but told me how to care for myself to prevent further injury. Also took time to explain, why previous treatment is still holding up well after 10 years.