Deacon Spotlight: Matt Cline
Matt Cline (2004, BS in Chemistry; 2009, MD)
Chief of Staff & Executive Director of Provider Integration & Strategy, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, NC
Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?
I’m a physician with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist which is the academic core of Advocate Health, the third largest nonprofit health system in the US. I serve as Chief of Staff and help lead a unified medical staff model that spans across the seven hospitals of our area.
My work is focused on aligning physicians and advanced practice providers across multiple sites into a cohesive clinical and governance structure. This includes standardizing structure, policies, peer review processes and medical staff quality while ensuring our facilities maintain the ability to deliver high-quality care in its local context. A key part of the role is building trust and engagement among medical staff at different facilities, especially as we transition from historically independent structure into a unified model.
What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?
My path to where I am today has been strongly shaped by my experiences at Wake Forest, both during my undergraduate education and medical school. Choosing Wake Forest for undergrad was intentional. I was drawn to a university grounded in service to others. That value became more than just an idea; it was something I actively lived out through mission work as a student. Those experiences helped solidify my commitment to serving others and ultimately reinforced my decision to pursue a career in medicine.
During medical school, I benefited from access to outstanding mentors at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Their guidance not only helped develop my clinical skills but also shaped my approach to leadership. These mentors were instrumental in helping me refine my career path and long-term goals.
In my professional career, I have continued to build on those foundational experiences through leadership opportunities at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Serving in roles such as Emergency Department Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer has allowed me to expand my impact beyond individual patient encounters and contribute to system-level improvements in care delivery. These roles have further strengthened my commitment to leadership, collaboration, and patient-centered care.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?
One of the most challenging aspects of a career in medicine is keeping up with a constantly evolving environment whether it’s responding to pandemics like COVID-19, managing ongoing staffing challenges, or adapting to an increasingly complex regulatory landscape…all while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care.
Navigating this requires a strong focus on adaptability and communication. I work to stay informed, anticipate changes when possible, and support my teams through clear expectations and open dialogue. At the same time, I make it a priority to keep patient care at the center of every decision. By balancing flexibility with a clear sense of purpose, we are able to help ensure continued safe, effective, and compassionate care despite these ongoing challenges.
What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?
My advice to Wake Forest graduates is to be intentional about the habits that will shape your life over the long-term.
Most important is your personal health. It’s easy to deprioritize sleep, exercise, and mental well-being as your career gets busy, but sustaining those habits is critical not just for longevity, but for being effective in whatever role you take on.
I would also encourage staying grounded in your values, particularly the emphasis on service that Wake instills. As your career advances and responsibilities grow, having a clear sense of purpose helps guide decisions and maintain perspective.
Finally, work-life balance isn’t something that just happens, you must actively pursue it. Making time for family, relationships, and activities outside of work ultimately makes you more resilient and more fulfilled.
We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?
Building personal connections with colleagues helps create a strong network that supports professional growth and opens new opportunities. Aim to be someone others genuinely enjoy working alongside…someone they look forward to seeing and collaborating with as a teammate.
Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?
I’ve been fortunate to have several outstanding mentors throughout my training and career. They’ve played a critical role in guiding me along my academic path and helping shape my career decisions, while also influencing how I approach patient care and leadership.
At the same time, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor others, and that has been equally impactful. In many ways, I’ve learned just as much from my mentees as they have from me. That experience has reinforced the importance of mentorship as a two-way relationship and has allowed me to stay grounded, continue growing, and give back in a meaningful way.
What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?
Pursue what you’re passionate about and focus on making a positive impact on the lives of those around you. When you anchor your career in purpose rather than just achievement, it creates a stronger sense of fulfillment and direction.
At the same time, be willing to put in the work to continuously grow. Seek out mentors, take on challenges, and stay curious. In healthcare especially, the learning never stops, and your commitment to improving yourself directly impacts the care you provide to others.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of relationships. Surround yourself with people who support you, challenge you, and share your values. Collaboration and strong professional connections will open doors and help sustain you through the more demanding parts of your career.
What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?
Continuing to learn and grow remains a central focus for me. This year, I’ll begin the Executive Leadership in Healthcare Fellowship thru Drexel University. This year-long program will broaden my perspective and provide the opportunity to learn alongside other emerging leaders in healthcare.
Looking ahead, I plan to continue pursuing leadership roles that expand my ability to make a meaningful impact. I’m particularly interested in supporting larger teams and helping design systems and processes that improve the way care is delivered. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to a healthcare environment that better serves both our patients and the teams who care for them.
Story published in May 2026. For current updates about Matthew, visit his LinkedIn profile.