Mariann Martin covers healthcare in Chattanooga and the surrounding region. She joined the Times Free Press in February 2011, after covering crime and courts for the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun for two years. Mariann was born in Indiana, but grew up in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Belize. She graduated from Union University in 2005 with degrees in English and history and has master’s degrees in international relations and history from the University of Toronto. While attending Union, Mariann served as editor for The Torch, a literary arts magazine that won two silver medals from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association during her tenure. After graduation, Mariann worked in business and private communications before taking her first job as a reporter in 2008 — a career choice that has changed her life. She has won several awards, including first place in daily deadline and business reporting from the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors contest, second place in features from the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors contest,first and second place in best spot news coverage from the Tennessee Press Association, third place in best news reporting from the Tennessee Press Association, and third place in best beat reporting from Best of Gannett. Mariann enjoys hiking, camping, weekend backpacking trips, gardening and running. She also reads (real) books in coffee shops, dawdles on Facebook, cooks and is addicted to food blogs. Contact Mariann at mmartin@timesfreepress.com or at 706-980-5824.