By: Tiffany Whitfield

Dr. Sina Matin lived through the Iranian Hostage Crisis, moved from continent to continent between the ages of five and 17 years old, and though his determination to become a surgeon was rattled with uncertainties, he found a place of belonging at Old Dominion University.

Dr. Matin's family is from Teheran, Iran, and his father served as a diplomat for the Iranian government from the 1950s through the 1970s.

In 1979 the Iranian Hostage crisis altered the course of his life. "I was 17 years-old when I was drafted in the Iran War," said Dr. Matin. "My father knew I wasn't going to survive the war, because I was going to be put on the frontlines." The Matin family escaped Iran and fled to Italy.

"My father had worked for the Iranian government for years, but after the revolution, my family had lost everything," said Dr. Matin.

"After some difficult times, we ended up in Virginia Beach a few months before I graduated from Princess Anne High School," said Dr. Matin. "My parents opened a bakery in Virginia Beach."

Dr. Matin found a job as a factory worker in Chesapeake after high school, but he wanted to go to college. "I had missed applying for college, so I registered at ODU as an unmatriculated student," said Dr. Matin. By his second semester he was admitted as a full-time student. He started off as a commuter student, but eventually worked on campus in the Webb Center and decided to live on campus too.

"One of my first and most memorable classes was with Nancy Wade, biology 101," said Dr. Matin. After this experience he declared biology as his major. "I loved sciences in high school, and it was a natural choice," said Dr. Matin.

"Besides Nancy Wade, one of the most influential and memorable ODU faculty was Alan Savitzky," said Dr. Matin. Savitzky taught comparative anatomy and herpetology. "My brother (Dr. Surena Matin) and I frequently talk about him because he had the most amazing classes and courses," said Dr. Matin. "I was at ODU and just going along for the ride, until Dr. Savitzky challenged me to the core, noticed my potential, and taught me how to think analytically, compartmentalize information and focus on facts." Another fond memory is that Dr. Savitzky introduced Dr. Matin to Pierces Barbecue near Williamsburg.

Dr. Matin received a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in chemistry from ODU in December 1985. He worked at a factory for nearly a year and then went back to ODU for a Master of Science degree in January of 1986. "I completed my Master of Science in Biology in June 1988," said Dr. Matin. He worked on three research projects while in graduate school and also worked as the assistant resident director in Powhatan residence hall.

As a graduate student, Dr. Matin initially became interested in going to medical school. "I had a research project that took me to EVMS weekly," said Dr. Matin. "Unfortunately, I had not prepared myself to start medical school." He decided to finish his master's degree and took a job as a tech in a research lab at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) for one year while he studied for the MCATs.

Dr. Matin started medical school in August of 1989 at MCV and finished in May 1993. "Then I was matched in General surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas," said Dr. Matin. "I completed a seven-year residency in 2000 and did a six-month fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston." After a short stint as a surgery faculty member at UTMB he started a private general surgery practice in the Dall-Fort Worth area and has been in practice for 20 years.

Dr. Matin is a leading general surgeon in North Texas, and he is one of the founding surgeons of Surgical Group of North Texas. Throughout his career he has received numerous awards and accolades. In 2000 he received the award of "Golden Scalpel" for best teaching resident at the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston as well as "Resident of the Year" by the Student Surgical Society University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. He has been recognized several times as a Super Doctor by Texas Monthly Magazine and a Best Doctor by D Magazine. Since 2012, he has served as the chair in the department of surgery at Baylor, Grapevine and in 2015 was selected as a Fellow American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

He credits his success to faculty at ODU. "The mentors in the Biological Sciences Department, especially during my junior and senior years, were very supportive and they were key in helping to shape my profession," said Dr. Matin. "The faculty helped me by encouraging me to make and set goals and the research opportunities were incredible."

To current Monarchs, Dr. Matin shares this: "Do what you're passionate about. Don't worry about the money. Ask yourself, "where do I see myself 30 years from now?" If my bother (Dr. Sina Matin) and I are an example of what can be done, look at us. We love what we do professionally. We love what we do every day, and we have no regrets."