Marta Perez
Pediatrician
Miami Connection
Dr. Perez established the first Office of Inspector General and Ethics Advisory Committee in a U.S. school district, boosting credibility and earning the Magnum Award for Miami-Dade Schools. She set national standards for mental health services in education and improved district finances and academics during a 24-year tenure representing southern Miami-Dade. Her reforms addressed early crises in student performance and fiscal oversight, leaving the district in peak condition.
About
Born and raised in Miami, Dr. Marta Perez graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in 1996 and earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Miami with top honors, including Phi Beta Kappa and the Warren W. Quillian Award for Excellence in Pediatrics. She completed her pediatric residency at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, became board-certified in pediatrics, and practices at Roads Pediatrics in Miami while affiliated with South Miami Hospital. In 1998, driven by declining student scores and financial mismanagement, she entered politics and served 24 years on the Miami-Dade School Board for District 8, initiating the district's first Office of Inspector General and Ethics Advisory Committee. Her tenure transformed the district into its strongest financial, academic, and physical shape in history, earning national awards like the 2021 Green Garten Award. She lost her 2022 re-election bid amid a DeSantis-backed challenge over a mask mandate vote. Currently, she practices pediatrics in Coral Gables.