Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1482626
Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 9 Caregiver Spotlight on Denise Matthias In the 1980s, Denise Matthias's father worked as a physical therapist at what is now Providence St. Mary Medical Center. A teenager at the time, Matthias swore she would never work in the hospital. But in the mid-1990s, she became a physical therapist assistant—at the very hospital she vowed to avoid. Then she went back to school, receiving her master's degree in physical therapy from Loma Linda University and her doctor of physical therapy degree from A.T. Still University. Now, 27 years after she first took that job, Matthias still serves the High Desert community as Providence St. Mary 's lead physical therapist. She sees her fellow caregivers as her extended family. They call her the "cat lady" because of the three cats she has at home, but Matthias is quick to point out that cat ladies typically have more than three cats. She also has two dogs—an English pointer/Labrador named Saburo and a Scottish terrier named Henry—who accompany Matthias on her morning runs. What do you enjoy about working at Providence St. Mary Medical Center? The best thing about working at Providence St. Mary is the people I work with in my department. I could not have made it through the last 27 years without them! Not only do we work well together as an awesome team, we also enjoy time outside of work—like happy hour on Taco Tuesdays. We are all friends and a great team! What motivated you to work in the health care field? As a teenager, I started working for my dad, who was a physical therapist. I enjoyed the interaction with the patients. What made you choose to work in your specialty? Currently, I focus on acute- care rehab. I am good at talking with people, and more than anything, that is the biggest battle: convincing someone to get out of bed so that you can work with them. So every day is a challenge, but I feel I am a good motivator, which helps when treating patients in the inpatient environment. What do you enjoy the most about working in your role? I really enjoy the diverse patient population and personalities of our patients. It is enjoyable to interact with them. Every day brings something a little different. What are your favorite things to do outside of work? I am an avid ultra trail runner, and I also run every day with my dogs. I enjoy a beer after my runs. What is something unique or surprising about you that you would like to share? I belong to the Claremont Ukulele Club. I have been playing the ukulele for five years. We perform every year at the Folk Music Center in Claremont and at the California Botanic Garden every Christmas. Visit providence.org/locations/ st-mary-medical-center/ rehabilitation-services for more information on the types of rehab Providence St. Mary offers. Meet Dr. Chris Okwuosa Christopher Okwuosa, MD, a general surgeon with St. Mary High Desert Medical Group, provides personalized, high-quality care to his patients. Dr. Okwuosa completed medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, and performed his residency at the Creighton University Medical Center. Dr. Okwuosa's areas of clinical expertise include open and laparoscopic/minimally invasive surgery. His commitment to his craft stems from his understanding that surgery allows patients to achieve immediate results for either acute or chronic medical conditions. He enjoys establishing a close rapport with his patients as they work together to achieve positive outcomes through treatment of their respective conditions. "Patients desire results whenever they meet with a surgeon, and I desire to deliver those results to my patients with excellent care," he says. Dr. Okwuosa enjoys operating but says knowing that his patients are enjoying their wellness provides an even greater sense of accomplishment. "My favorite part of the job is when my patient comes back for a follow-up feeling better than when they first saw me," he says. "This gives me the sense of fulfillment that I served my patients and community well." To reach Dr. Okwuosa, call 760-998-2312.