By: Kimberly Graf
A Lifelong Commitment to Service
For as long as he can remember, Dr. Martin “Marty” Stallone has held two unwavering truths: he wanted to be a physician, and he wanted to serve his country. Both were anchored by clear purpose.
At age 13, during recovery from routine orthopedic surgery, he recognized that his passions didn’t always mirror those of peers who spent much of their time playing video games. To thrive, he needed both physical activity and mental rigor—an early awareness that would shape the trajectory of his life. Growing up near the United States Military Academy at West Point, and inspired by his grandfather, a World War II veteran, Stallone was surrounded by examples of service, discipline, and purpose.
That sense of direction was reinforced at home. His parents supported him at every step, instilling the values that would guide him forward. Today, he credits his wife and six children as his “team.” “Nothing I’ve done has been solo,” he says, “and they are always by my side.”
Dr. Stallone pursued both callings through Cornell University’s Air Force ROTC program, earning his Bachelor of Science and beginning a lifelong commitment to service. He went on to earn both an MD and MBA simultaneously from the University of Pennsylvania, and later an MA in National Security Policy Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He also serves as an Air Force Colonel and has been with the New York Air National Guard for more than 28 years, the past seven as the New York State Air Surgeon. These accomplishments reflect a career built on discipline, leadership, and a breadth of perspective informed by medicine, business, and service.
Building Expertise on the Front Lines
As his career evolved, Dr. Stallone stepped into health system leadership roles, including serving as a hospitalist, physician leader, and former health system CEO, gaining a broader view of 
how care is delivered and where it often breaks down. He saw firsthand the pressures facing providers, the operational realities behind clinical decisions, and the importance of aligning strategy with real-world practice.
That philosophy continues to guide him: collaboration is essential, and understanding the system from every angle is key to improving outcomes.
Joining CDPHP®
That belief ultimately led him to Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP®), a regional, not-for-profit health plan based in 
Latham, NY, and founded more than 40 years ago by local physicians committed to doing what’s right for the community. Already familiar with – and impressed by – the organization’s long-standing focus on keeping patients at the center of care, Dr. Stallone saw an opportunity to help advance that mission even further.
“You have to understand providers, the community, payors, and the people doing the work,” he explains. “That’s how you design programs that truly make a difference. CDPHP already has a strong foundation; my hope is to help take it to the next level.”
On December 1, 2025, Dr. Stallone joined CDPHP as Executive Vice President and Chief Healthcare Services Officer, bringing with him a rare combination of clinical expertise, operational leadership, and mission-first thinking. In this role, he is responsible for shaping the organization’s healthcare delivery strategy, spanning clinical quality, data-driven program design, and pharmacy management – all with a singular goal: supporting providers and improving outcomes for the members and communities CDPHP serves.
Vision for Partnership and Innovation
At the core of his vision is partnership. Drawing on his experience as both a physician and a former health system CEO, Stallone sees collaboration as the most effective path forward in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. He designs practical, sustainable, and impactful programs by grounding his strategy in the real challenges facing the healthcare system, including rising costs.
His approach focuses on solutions – including care coordination, clinical quality initiatives, and innovative pharmacy programs – that make a measurable difference in care while balancing access, affordability and effectiveness.
Rooted in the Community
Equally central to his leadership is a strong sense of local responsibility. As an employee driven, member-focused, and physician-founded health plan, CDPHP is dedicated to keeping the community healthy, happy, safe, and secure. “Our employees are helping support the health of family, friends, and neighbors,” he says. “That connection matters.” For Dr. Stallone, impact is greatest when everyone involved in care understands and engages with the communities they serve.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Stallone refers to CDPHP as a “true collaborator,” with strong expertise in bringing together providers, health systems, and community partners. A key example of this commitment is the health plan’s integration with the region’s largest 
independent multi specialty medical practice. In 2022, CDPHP and Community Care Physicians took a bold step to transform care for thousands of Capital Region residents, creating a more seamless, coordinated experience for both patients and their providers.
Dr. Stallone’s focus is on creating pathways that strengthen these existing relationships, while also improving coordination and delivering measurable improvements in care – all while staying true to the CDPHP mission.
From a determined child recovering from surgery to a physician, military leader, and now healthcare executive, Dr. Stallone’s journey reflects a lifetime shaped by curiosity, commitment, and collaboration. Those same principles now guide his work at CDPHP as he looks to the future with a clear goal: building a healthcare system that supports members, engages communities, and collaborates with providers.
