Christina L Dunbar Matos, DO

Advanced heart failure (mechanical circulatory support and transplant). Also, cardiac disease in Women (an often under-represented population) 

How did you fall in love with your field?

I initially pursued a career in Exercise Physiology/Public Health however, found the pathophysiology of heart disease so interesting. After working for a short time in the Public Health arena I decided to follow my interest and enrolled into medical school. I am often asked "when did you know you wanted to do cardiology?". I reply "After my first cardiology lecture in medical school - the physiology of cardiology was far more interesting to me than other human organ system". While in General Cardiology Fellowship I was exposed to the field of Advanced Heart Failure and I was hooked - and here I am today. 

Things people should know about me

• I love football! I am a die hard West Virginia University Football fan as well as Dallas Cowboy fan (sorry, not a KC Chief fan 🙂)
• I am a coal miner's daughter! My dad was the greatest human I have ever known and helped me get to where I am today
• My passion in life is Animal Rescue/Animal Rights. Most of my time (outside of work) is dedicated to this. My life's dream is to open a "Rescue Farm" for all types of animals and spend my life caring for them and increasing awareness to the plights of animals everywhere. I have 2 dogs (Damsel and Nadia) and 2 cats (Christmas and Reagan)
• I am married to a fellow physician (Mike Matos) - Trauma Surgery/Acute Care Surgery and have been married for 10 years.