For MCMC Cardiologist Dr. Matt LaBarbera, the Gorge is a dream come true.
Born and raised in the suburbs outside New York City, Dr. LaBarbera completed
his B.A., M.D, and residency at Manhattan’s prestigious New York
University School of Medicine—where he met his wife, MCMC Pediatrician
Dr. Jaclin LaBarbera.
After following each other to San Francisco, where the doctors completed
fellowships in their respective fields, the couple was ready to fulfill
their dream of settling down in a rural area with plenty of access to
nature and outdoor activities.
“Living in the city had its place, but I got burned out on the traffic,
the cost,” said Dr. LaBarbera. “It’s nice to go to sleep
without hearing sirens go by. Jaclin loves the outdoors as much as I do,
and we just enjoy getting out as much as we can. Anything the outdoors
has to offer we enjoy doing as a family now.”
Family Matters
Despite his suburban upbringing, Dr. LaBarbera has always enjoyed the
outdoors. He grew up skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hiking, cycling, mountain
biking and riding ATVs, activities he hopes to share with his four boys,
who range in age from newborn to 5-years-old.
Even before meeting his wife, his goal was to practice in a rural area
where he could raise a family. Except for the newborn, all of the boys
have been on skis already.
“My long-term goal always had been to get back to the outdoors and
provide a great environment for my kids to grow up, do a lot of outdoor
activities and share all those activities with them,” Dr. LaBarbera said.
He found that in the Gorge, where he owns a home in Hood River. The Gorge
is also within driving distance of his wife’s family. Dr. Jaclin
LaBarbera grew up in Lebanon, where her family still lives.
“It has been great already in the brief time we have been here,”
Dr. LaBarbera said. “I love being so close to family, driving down
for the weekend, and it’s so good for the boys.”
Exemplary Care
As a board-certified interventional cardiologist, Dr. Matt LaBarbera,
treats a broad range of cardiovascular diseases.
He enjoys establishing long-term relationships with his patients, educating
them about cardiovascular disease and helping them make meaningful changes
in their own health as part of a patient-physician team.
Practicing at MCMC Cardiology gives him the opportunity to develop those
relationships.
“We’re not just trying to churn out office visits,”
he said. “We’re actually trying to take the time to develop
relationships. Seeing patients come back to me and say, ‘I feel
so much better.’ It’s the most rewarding thing about medicine.”
Due to Mid-Columbia Medical Center’s partnership with Oregon Health
& Science University, he also practices in Portland twice a month,
and can communicate with leading doctors about patients with complex cardiac
conditions.
Although Dr. LaBarbera enjoys his relationship with OHSU, do not expect
him to move to Portland.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Dr. LaBarbera said. “I’m
looking forward to being part of this community for a long time.”
To learn more, visit Dr. LaBarbera's Provider Page
here