The Personal Side of Healthcare
Adjunct instructor Matthew Dyer’s professional path started with a personal tragedy. When he was 15, his mother was ill and within a few years, passed away. From the time of his mother’s diagnosis, Matthew battled for insurance coverage and dropped out of high school to help fund the rising healthcare costs.
“There aren’t many protections,” he explained. “They found any reason they could to drop her from insurance.”
In the days prior to the Affordable Care Act, the pre-existing condition clause made it a challenge to find coverage. After his constant fight for funding and experience with a system that sought treatment over care, he found himself prepared for a career in healthcare and finance.
Armed with knowledge of healthcare management based on his experience caring for his mother, Matthew pursued a business education at both the undergraduate and graduate level. He has worked in the government, non-profit, and private sectors, today serving as the Director of Finance and Revenue Cycle Management for a provider-owned healthcare group and the CFO of a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center.
“We need to equip the next generation of healthcare leaders and managers with the knowledge to make informed decisions and create change,” he said. “Whether we like it or not, whether it’s better or worse, health-care is changing.”
From team-based care to advancements in technology, the changes in the healthcare industry are prevalent. With a focus on preventative care and a more intentional approach to who delivers care, Matthew says there is opportunity to improve the system and consequently, the lives of patients. In his courses, Matthew strives to make health-care personal, especially when it comes to finance.
“Finances translate to personal lives and everyone’s personal lives lead to healthcare,” he said. “We all have a self-interest and being able to link that in the classroom helps get people involved.”
Matthew’s personal experiences have led him to be an advocate for quality, cost-effective care — something that can be achieved by transforming healthcare professionals into leaders for change.
Matthew Dyer teaches Healthcare Finance and Legal Issues: Payment and Delivery Systems in the Healthcare Management program. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Rise Up Community School and was recently named to the board of the Chicano Humanities & Arts Council.