Everyone knows Marty Lagina as the guy who’s spent a small fortune and over a decade trying to solve a 200-year-old mystery in Nova Scotia. He’s the face of The Curse of Oak Island, alongside his brother Rick and his son Alex. But if you’ve ever watched the show and wondered about the rest of the family—specifically his daughter—you aren't alone. Fans often ask what does Marty Lagina’s daughter do, assuming she might be back at the family vineyard or working behind the scenes of their engineering empire.
Honestly? She’s doing something completely different.
While the men in her family are digging through mud and scanning sonar for Templar gold, Maddie Lagina has built a career that is literally about life and death. No, she isn't hunting for buried treasure. She’s a doctor. And not just any doctor—she’s specialized in some of the most intense, high-stakes medicine there is.
The Career Path of Maddie Lagina
It’s easy to get lost in the Lagina family tree because they’re all so busy. Marty is a self-made millionaire from the energy sector, a winery owner, and a reality TV star. Alex is the manager of Mari Vineyards and a regular on the History Channel. Maddie, however, took a hard left turn into the world of academia and healthcare.
If you look at the professional registries, you won’t find her listed as a "treasure hunter."
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Instead, Madeline Lagina is a licensed physician. She currently works within the University of Michigan Health system. Specifically, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor specializing in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Think about that for a second. While her dad is worried about the "curse" of an island, she’s in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) dealing with patients who are often on the brink of respiratory failure. It's a heavy, demanding job that requires years of grueling education. She didn't just slide into a family business; she went through the academic wringer.
A Timeline of Her Journey
She didn't get there overnight.
- 2008–2012: She attended Emory University for her Bachelor of Science.
- 2012–2018: She stayed at Emory but leveled up significantly. She earned a dual degree—both an MD (Medical Doctor) and an MPH (Master of Public Health). That’s six years of post-grad work right there.
- 2018–2021: She moved back to Michigan (the family’s home base) for her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Michigan.
- 2021–2024: She completed a rigorous fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
As of early 2026, she’s fully established. She isn't just treating patients at the Pulmonary Clinic in the Taubman Center; she’s also the Assistant Fellowship Director. That means she’s helping train the next generation of lung specialists.
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Why She Isn’t on The Curse of Oak Island
People always want to know why she isn't on camera. You’ve seen Marty’s wife, Olivia, occasionally. You see Alex every week. Why no Maddie?
It basically comes down to time and privacy.
When you’re a clinical assistant professor and an ICU doctor, you don't exactly have three months to go hang out in a swamp in Canada. Her world is the University Hospital in Ann Arbor. While the show thrives on the "what if" of history, her career thrives on the "what is" of medical science.
There’s also the vibe of her personal life. She seems to value a degree of separation from the "fame" side of the Lagina name. She married Erik Winnega back in 2022 in Traverse City—a beautiful spot near the family's Michigan roots—but she keeps her professional profile strictly about medicine. She’s published research on things like physician well-being and disparities in intensive care. That’s a far cry from debating whether a piece of lead is a "cross" or just a piece of lead.
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Breaking the Reality TV Mold
It’s actually kinda refreshing, isn't it?
In an era where every kid of a reality star is trying to launch a lifestyle brand or a YouTube channel, Maddie Lagina went and became a specialist in pulmonary medicine. It shows a different side of the Lagina family values. Marty has always been vocal about the importance of education—he has a law degree and an engineering degree himself. It clearly rubbed off.
What This Means for the Lagina Legacy
Marty has often said that the Oak Island search is a "black hole" for money, but he does it because he’s a dreamer. Maddie represents the more pragmatic, scientific side of that same drive.
If you were looking for her to show up in a hard hat at the Money Pit, you’re probably going to be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a success story that exists entirely outside the shadow of a TV show, she’s it. She has leveraged the stability her family provided to pursue a career that focuses on public health and critical patient care.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Lagina family, here are a few things to keep in mind about how they operate:
- The "Work First" Mentality: Whether it’s Alex running the winery or Maddie in the ICU, the Lagina kids aren't just "influencers." They have actual day jobs.
- Educational Foundation: If you’re inspired by their success, look at their backgrounds. Every member of that family has heavy-duty degrees.
- Privacy Boundaries: Respect that some family members choose to stay off-screen. Maddie’s contribution to the world is in a hospital, not on a television set.
Ultimately, Maddie Lagina is a reminder that you can come from a "famous" family and still carve out a path that is uniquely your own. While her dad hunts for gold, she’s out there saving lives. That’s a different kind of treasure altogether.