Meet your MEC: Matt Egalka, MD

‘Inpatient medicine is the ultimate team sport’

In this series, we’ll meet members of the Medical Executive Committees (MECs) at Salem and West Valley hospitals so you can get to know the people behind these leadership roles. Next up, Credentials Committee Chair for Salem Hospital, Matt Egalka, MD. Dr. Egalka specializes in Neonatology.

What does it mean to you to be part of MEC?

As the Chair of the SH Credentials Committee, I help to coordinate the process of approving and onboarding physicians and advanced practice providers to our amazing organization. I've been on the committee for several years and took on the chair role about a year ago. I'm incredibly proud of the rigorous process we follow to make sure the providers we admit to our medical staff are both excellent clinicians and a good fit within our organizational culture.

What made you want to specialize in Neonatology?

Since I was a little kid I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician of some stripe and take care of children. I chose to subspecialize in neonatology — intensive care for babies who are born premature or have other medical needs — because it offers the opportunity to affect a patient's life from their first breath (sometimes even administered by me) and for the rest of their life. I am amazed by the resilience and strength of our babies and their families every day. It's incredibly gratifying to be able to care for a baby and his or her parents during a tough time at the beginning of life and then be able to discharge them home thriving.

Why are you a doctor?

Inpatient medicine is the ultimate team sport — where else can you coordinate a group of amazing professionals at the top of their field? All focused on the single goal of making a patient’s life better. It's incredibly rewarding to be able to have such a profound impact on our patients’ lives.

What do you want most for your patients and their families?

There is so much misinformation and questionable guidance out there for new parents to process. I want our families to be equipped to make educated medical decisions for their children based on facts and best evidence. I also hope for them to be the best advocates for their children and not to be afraid to ask questions about their child's care.

What’s a fun fact about you we’d never guess?

Even though I grew up in Massachusetts and trained in Connecticut and New York, I lived in Texas for five years before moving to Salem. It was definitely a culture shock for us moving from Manhattan to San Antonio!

What are you reading or watching right now?

I've always been a huge fan of 20th century American literature. I've recently started making my way through some Ernest Hemingway I've missed, most recently his nonfiction account of an East African hunting safari “Green Hills of Africa,” which has made me want to go on a (non-hunting) safari someday. I also love science fiction and have been so excited to watch “Dune” brought to life in the movies.

You enjoy downhill skiing. What’s your favorite run in the PNW?

For the past few years, we've gone up to Whistler, British Columbia, a few times to ski. This past March my older son, Milo, 10, and I were finally skilled enough to ski some tougher blue square runs, including the amazing Peak to Creek. My wife, Susan, and younger son, Felix, 3, are now taking lessons as well and hopefully will be able to join us at the top!

What’s a favorite local landmark you enjoy and why?

During the pandemic, we were able to drive down to Crater Lake and take in the amazing natural beauty. Since then, we've been on a mission to explore more National Parks (Yellowstone, Glacier, Hawaii Volcanoes) but nothing compares to the wilderness in our own backyard.

Best restaurant in Salem (and your order)?

With young children, we don't go out to restaurants as much as we'd like, but we definitely recommend Dough Hook Bakery on Lancaster. Their crème brûlée donuts are spectacular.

What do you like most about Salem Hospital?

I had never even been to Oregon until I interviewed for my job at Salem Hospital, and I was so impressed with the NICU staff, organizational culture and exceptional care the NICU babies received that I knew it was the right home for me. I really admire the concept of everyone serving as a change agent in a culture where our staff's opinion and input are universally valued.

What’s the best advice you ever heard?

My fellowship mentor had an amazing saying regarding patient care: "Exercise restraint from therapeutic exuberance." Sometimes the best clinical course of action is choosing to monitor a clinical condition that might resolve on its own rather than pursuing an aggressive course of intervention. I like to tell the parents of our preemies that their babies are like very valuable plants: often, all they need is the right nutrition, environment and love to grow and thrive!

Thank you for sharing with us, Dr. Egalka! We look forward to speaking with our next MEC member, West Valley Hospital Medical Specialty Department Chair, Christina Meier, MD, in our next issue.