Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health

Matthew Manighalam, MD, MPH

I am employed full-time at The Permanente Medical Group in the Bay Area of California. I am a member of the Texas Medical Association, ACOEM, ACPM, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. I have yet to start working as I am still in residency.

What led you to public health and occupational & environmental health in particular?

I have always been interested in Preventive Medicine, and while applying to residency programs, I found Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM). The most interesting patients I was treating in my Family Medicine internship program back in Fresno, California, were the ones that had issues related to their work. I loved talking with patients about their jobs, and it was fascinating how powerless I was to help them when the complexities of their workplace (or hobbies) influenced their health in very specific ways. I am also passionate about the environment and public health, so OEM fits me perfectly as a residency program and a specialty.

Tell us about your work. What is an average day like for you?

In my Clinical Occupational Medicine practice, I will see up to 20 patients a day for occupationally-related conditions such as exposures to toxic/irritant chemicals, musculoskeletal injuries (falls, breaks, strains, sprains, etc.), routine pre-employment physicals, Department of Transportation physicals, Impairment Rating/MMI visits, and (due to my family medicine background) primary care visits. I will work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday with weekends off. I love all aspects of my job and will likely have medical students or residents shadowing me and a nurse or medical assistant to help.

How did your education as a SWCOEH ERC trainee at UTHealth School of Public Health prepare you for your current career?

The SWCOEH at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health was integral in preparing me for my career. The OEM Residency provided residency training in clinical, corporate, international, and public health medicine at several rotations during my PGY-3 year to help acclimatize me to the pace of any career pathway/focus I choose in those areas. My training prepared me well, and I met many mentors at the National ACOEM conference who could guide me in my career. I keep in touch with all my preceptors and ancillary staff from my rotations that have helped me along the way. 

What advice do you have for students pursuing a SWCOEH ERC traineeship leading to a career in public health?

Look for a program that provides more opportunities than you can possibly handle. Find mentors/leaders that encourage and challenge you. Find a workplace that helps manage your stress in a positively adaptive way and cares about how many of the six pillars of lifestyle medicine you can achieve while working.