Physical Therapist Matt Honored with Employee of the Month Award

Physical Therapist Matt has received North Oaks Health System's Employee of the Month Award for October 2022.

Matt joined the North Oaks Rehabilitation Services team in 2019 as a Physical Therapist. In the four years since, he has cared for physical therapy patients in a variety of settings, including Rehabilitation Services’ outpatient clinics and aquatics program, as well as both North Oaks Medical Center and North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital.

“I try to be as happy, friendly and open as possible and treat my patients the way I would want to be treated,” Matt shares. “I love being a part of a community-based health system and being able to build relationships with our patients.” 

Matt graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science before earning his doctorate in Physical Therapy from nearby Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

“Oddly enough, I started out as a Math and Statistics major, but after taking an anatomy course for an elective, I decided to pursue medical school and even took the MCAT®. While getting hours for that, I interned at a physical therapy clinic, which I loved,” Matt explains. “So I scrapped medical school and took the Physical Therapy route from there.”

Matt also is certified in dry needling. This type of physical therapy uses needles to stimulate and break up knotted or hard muscle tissue, known as trigger points, located deep within the body.

Originally from Snowflake, Arizona, Matt and his wife Kaeli live in her hometown of Prairieville with their two daughters – 3-year-old Brynli and 1-year-old Riley – and their 8-year-old labradoodle Nala. They belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Matt helps with coordinating activities for the Young Men’s Program like camping trips and sporting events.

Away from work, Matt prioritizes family time with Kaeli and their daughters. An outdoorsman at heart, Matt enjoys snowboarding, hiking and playing just about any sport any chance he gets – especially soccer and basketball. Bass fishing at the family camp on Lake Verret, going to the movies and reading book collections like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings also rank among his favorite pastimes.

Professionally, Matt belongs to the American Physical Therapy Association.

“With boundless energy and enthusiasm, Matt expertly goes above and beyond to help us meet both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy needs," asserts Rehabilitation Services Outpatient Operations Manager Scott Gaydos. "Patients trust him and consistently compliment the care he provides. Simply put, Matt exemplifies the Rehabilitation Services motto, ‘Whatever It Takes.’”