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Amanda Mathews, MD, grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, before beginning her educational journey at Loyola University Chicago for her undergraduate degree, with the dream of going to medical school. She moved back to her home state, where she completed her medical education at the University of Iowa.
After graduation, she applied all over the United States for medical residency, including Iowa, California, Seattle, and Pittsburgh, ultimately matching in family medicine and completing her residency in 2011 at Ventura County Medical Center. She did not expect to end up there but really connected with the people and the community.
After finishing her residency, she worked at a satellite clinic with affiliation to her residency hospital in Simi Valley, and a year later, she and her husband welcomed their first daughter. A year and a half later, they decided to move to Valparaiso, Indiana, to be closer to family.
Dr. Mathews joined HealthLinc in Valparaiso in 2015 because her ultimate goal was to work with underserved populations. She has worked at the Valparaiso clinic for 11 years as the Assistant Site Medical Director.
Family medicine has been a specialty that Dr. Mathews has been considering since middle school. She wanted a field that allowed her to have patients across the whole lifespan. Going through medical school and rotations, she tried to keep an open mind and enjoy every experience she had, but she decided she did not want to give up seeing children, adults, or managing long-term patient relationships: family medicine had her heart. To her, the most rewarding part of family medicine has been the relationships she has built. Some of the patients have been with her for a decade, and she has walked through the most difficult diagnoses, but also their most joyful milestones.
Dr. Mathews admitted that she was interested in psychiatry and applied for residency in both traditional family medicine and combined family medicine-psychiatry programs, but she chose the traditional path. However, she continues to incorporate psychiatry into her practices and teachings. In her clinic, they manage depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and addiction. They help to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Suboxone and see many patients navigating recovery.
As an MD, Dr. Mathews does not practice osteopathic medicine with her patients; however, some of the residents in the clinic do. They report that their patients have responded positively to osteopathic treatments, particularly for musculoskeletal pain. She said it has been a valuable addition to the clinic.
In addition to practicing at the clinic twice a week, Dr. Matthews works as the Assistant Director at HealthLinc. Her responsibilities include mentoring and providing evaluations for residents, as well as working on curriculum development. She supports the Program Director in making decisions regarding curricula and didactics. Recently, she has also taken on coordinating rotations and evaluations for medical students. Despite all of this, she does have Fridays off and often uses this time to catch up on work.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of being Assistant Director is watching the growth of residents from their first year to their third year. She values the progression in their confidence and sense of belonging within the program.
Dr. Mathews shared that initially, she struggled to juggle everything, and there was a big learning curve. In the beginning of her career, she would often stay late to finish up notes, and it was hard to manage on top of being a mother. Eventually, she found her flow and transitioned to part-time for a period, helping her balance everything more effectively.
One thing that helped Dr. Mathews through her journey in finding balance was the support she had; for instance, her mother and mother-in-law were there for childcare, as well as having a babysitter. She emphasized the fact that prioritizing is everything and accepting the fact that you cannot give 100% to every single aspect of your life, and that is okay.
When she is not working, Dr. Mathews enjoys exercising and running and is currently training for her second half marathon. She also values family time, swimming in the summer, traveling, and meeting her friends at different coffee shops. She intentionally schedules time for personal fulfillment.
Dr. Mathews concluded her interview with a piece of advice that should resonate with all medical students and anyone in the field of healthcare:
Maya El-Chal is a second-year osteopathic medical student at Marian University Wood College of Medicine. She has several interests in medical school, including pediatrics, psychiatry, public health, and helping underserved communities. Outside of school, she loves cooking and baking, reading and writing, and exploring the city.
Discover the voices of Marian University's health professions students through "Franc Notes", a vibrant, student-led blog that embodies our Franciscan commitment to community, reflection, and compassionate service. Inspired by the rhythm of "SOAP notes," it features weekly insights—from "DO Diaries" interviews with physicians to summer reflections and program spotlights—fostering collaboration across disciplines."
