Staff Stories: Jason Martin-Williams

Leading from the ground up

By Grace DePaull

Since its doors opened just over a year ago, Jason Martin-Williams has been an integral part of the Weill Cornell Imaging team at NewYork-Presbyterian’s Hudson Yards location. 

“It was exciting and it was scary,” he said of leaving his role as an evening supervisor for Weill Cornell Imaging to join the brand-new location and taking a leap of faith to help build the team’s culture and operations from the ground up. “But now, it feels like it’s something that’s mine.” 

As Senior Practice Supervisor, Martin-Williams oversees radiology operations at Hudson Yards, ensuring the site runs efficiently each day. As a member of the inaugural team that helped bring the new imaging site to life, he manages the facility’s day-to-day operations — from keeping imaging technology running smoothly to maintaining patient flow. 

His responsibilities extend well beyond logistics. Martin-Williams directly manages six staff practice coordinators (SPCs), collaborates closely with technologists and nurses, and works across institutional lines with clinical partners including Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian. Managing these daily operations requires both skill and empathy — qualities shaped by a lifelong familiarity with healthcare.

“My grandmother was a nurse, my uncle is a doctor, and my mom worked in a dialysis unit,” he said, “so I always felt comfortable in a healthcare setting.” As a child, Martin-Williams spent time in clinical environments, even striking up conversations with patients. “I would walk around while my mom worked and sometimes sit at the bedside, talking with patients and having full conversations, all at just ten years old.” 

That early comfort now helps him stay grounded in moments where clarity and compassion matter most — a perspective he carries forward not just with patients, but with his team. 

For Martin-Williams, connection is at the heart of his work. While operational leadership defines his title, people define his purpose.

“The part of my role that I really love is working with my team and the people around me,” he said. “I see myself in them.”

He credits a former manager with helping him understand the impact a leader can have on someone’s growth — a lesson he now brings into his own leadership.

“Sometimes our staff don’t recognize their greatness. Sometimes it takes a person to show them what they’re capable of and to help spark something within them,” he said. “My former manager was that person for me, so I want to do the same thing with my team. I constantly want to be in a space where I’m encouraging them to move forward.”

That philosophy is reflected in the growth of those around him. Through his mentorship and support, team members have pursued new professional paths — including one colleague who recently gained acceptance into a master’s program in healthcare administration thanks to his encouragement. For Martin-Williams, fostering that kind of growth begins with creating an environment grounded in openness, trust, and shared problem-solving.

“You can’t expect a person to be themselves if you’re not willing to be yourself too,” he said. “I try to be honest and transparent. My door is never closed. I’m here to listen and then problem-solve with you. If there’s an issue, I want you to tell me, and then also show me how you want to troubleshoot it. We’re in it together.”

For his dedication to cultivating a supportive and empowering team, Martin-Williams was awarded the Thoughtful Leader Award in the 2025 President’s Awards for Employee Excellence, part of the first cohort of Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) employees recognized in a ceremony honoring more than 75 Cornell employees globally. 

“I was shocked and baffled,” he said. “It means a lot to me that my staff see me as being thoughtful. I see myself as simply trying to be the best person I can be for my team.”

His recognition came during a landmark year, when the Employee Excellence Awards formally expanded to include WCM employees in New York City and Qatar, reflecting a shared commitment to honoring employee excellence across Cornell’s campuses. 

One year after helping launch the Hudson Yards site, Martin-Williams remains focused on growth — for himself, his team, and the patients they serve.

“I’m just really excited about exploring where I am,” he said. “And learning as much as I can.” He encourages others to embrace opportunity with the same mindset.

“Be tenacious,” he advised. “Go after opportunities that present themselves to you, and don’t be scared about taking them, because you never know where they’ll lead you. You never know what you’re capable of until you do it.”

For Martin-Williams, the Hudson Yards site is more than just a workplace — it’s a space where leadership, collaboration, and care intersect. His focus on growth, trust, and support continues to shape both the team he leads and the environment they are building together. 

“I always want to make sure that I’m doing the right thing by my team,” he said. “I want to always create a space where they feel like they can trust in me and trust in their capabilities.”