Matt graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI and moved to Tucson after accepting a position in the University of Arizona Internal Medicine Residency Program. Attracted by the beautiful Sonoran Desert, Tucson's home-town atmosphere, and most of all, by the friendly and welcoming people, he settled in the area immediately. Matt currently practices at Tucson Medical Center as a hospital physician, treating patients with serious illnesses requiring hospitalization.


Matt was born in the small town of Midland, Michigan, where his parents remain today. His mother, Janice Heinz, grew up in Colorado and is the daughter of a Lebanese immigrant. Gerald Heinz, Matt's father, was born to parents of German descent and was raised in rural Nebraska. Gerald and Janice met in Colorado and then relocated to Midland after getting married. Matt's parents emphasized religious life and they attended Lutheran services every Sunday. Matt spent four years living with his family in the Netherlands during his youth. He has one sister living in the Phoenix area and three other sisters who have settled throughout the country with their families.


Matt attended public elementary and secondary schools in Midland, graduating from H. H. Dow High School. Matt then studied at Albion College, a small liberal arts college in Michigan.

At Albion, Matt expanded his critical thinking skills and was invited to participate in multiple summer research fellowships, resulting in his first scientific publication. Matt graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and with Spanish language proficiency. He completed a departmental honors thesis in Chemistry and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

After four years at Albion, Matt began his professional training at Wayne State University School of Medicine. During his medical education he attended to patients in clinics and hospitals throughout metropolitan Detroit, including many inner-city areas. He was granted a fellowship in Vascular Surgery at Harvard Medical School and spent the summer of 2000 conducting stem cell research.

Matt was drawn to just about every facet of medicine at Wayne. However, he ultimately decided to pursue residency training in internal medicine because of the close relationships internists tend to form with their patients. Additionally, Matt found himself comfortable in this element, owing this to the deductive reasoning and problem-solving required to diagnose and treat patients suffering from one or more of the vast number of adult diseases.


Matt was intimately involved with every aspect of patient care during his time as a resident physician at University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, and the Southern Arizona VA. He worked with patients in the emergency department, made daily rounds, and helped implement post-hospitalization care plans. As a resident, he functioned as a clinician as well as a coordinator for medical treatment. In these roles, he experienced firsthand the complexities of multiple health care systems—including a private community hospital, a large research institution, and government-administered medical care. At TMC, he applies his multidisciplinary training as he cares for patients who are seriously ill and require close monitoring in the hospital for their treatment.

Physical fitness — tennis, swimming, rock-climbing

Music — listening to and performing classical pieces

Cooking — for anyone who will allow it

Travel — college semester abroad in Venice, Italy

Professional Memberships, Community Involvement, Honoraries

Pima County Medical Society

Arizona Medical Association

American Medical Association

Phi Beta Kappa

Three seasons with Arizona Repertory Singers

Former Executive Board member, Rebuilding Together Tucson

Executive Committee Member, Healthy Arizona Initiative

Democrats of Greater Tucson

Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats

Equality Arizona

Paid for by Heinz for Arizona