Mom followed dream to become MD

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/michellematthews.jpg” caption=”Michelle Matthews will fulfill a lifelong dream today when she graduates as a doctor from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. The 47-year-old mother of three is not only the first member of her family to become a doctor, but also the first Mi’kmaq woman from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia to do so. “]Fulfilling a lifelong dream took Michelle Matthews across four provinces over the course
of three years.

On Friday, the mother of three will graduate as a doctor from the Michael G. DeGroote
School of Medicine at age 47.

It was “a cross between insanity and a mid-life crisis,” says Matthews of her decision to
enter medical school in her mid-40s.

She's not only the first member of her family to become a doctor, but also the first
Mi'kmaq woman from Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia to do so.

She has wanted to be a doctor since she was seven, “not a nurse because I'm too bossy”.
She was born in Toronto and grew up in northern Ontario. Her mother, aunt and
grandaunt had been nurses, but after finishing two years of a science degree at Mount
Saint Vincent University in Halifax, she was diverted into communications and
completed a master's degree in New York City.

But, she says, “I never recovered from having to withdraw from pre-med.” Her husband
Ron Leach encouraged her to return to school and she graduated from Acadia University
with a double major in biology and history.

Matthews said she went to McMaster's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine because
of its well-established reputation in family medicine and she chose the school's Niagara
campus based in St. Catharines because of its similarities to the Annapolis Valley where
she and her family live.

Her family, including Nicole, 12, Sean, 14, and Jason, 26, remained in Nova Scotia
during her three years in the medical program in Ontario, but there were frequent
flights home and she was able to do all her elective programs in Nova Scotia.

On July 1 the new Dr. Matthews will begin her residency program in family medicine at
Dalhousie University in Halifax and will work out of a site five minutes from her home.
Her desire is to eventually practice rural medicine. A large family reunion is planned
after the 2:30 p.m. convocation ceremony at Hamilton Place.