Matthew Shapiro, MD, MS

What is your favorite animated movie or cartoon?

I don't really have a favorite animated show from when I was a child but my absolute favorite show from childhood was Bill Nye the Science Guy.

What is your favorite children's book and why?

The Magical School Bus series was a favorite of mine as a child and now a favorite of my daughter. We have read each of them at least 10-20 times.

What was your favorite childhood toy?

I loved everything about LEGOs. I loved following the instructions to a T and also making my own hodgepodge creations.

Who is your greatest inspiration and why?

My mom is my greatest inspiration. She taught me that the most satisfying and long-lasting path to happiness is through the service of others.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

My favorite thing to do is make my wife and children laugh. We love going to the beach together, playing in the sand and the water, and hopefully surfing together someday soon. I also love to cook, read sci-fi, travel, and listen to and play music.

What inspired you to work in pediatrics?

My reason for working in pediatrics is simple - I love everything about working with children, parents, and caregivers. Caring for children is both joyful and meaningful. Children are resilient, fun, curious, and capable of surprising you in ways that are both charming and deeply inspiring. Pediatrics also offers an endless clinical puzzle with uniquely fascinating physiology and constant opportunities for thoughtful problem-solving.

Just as important, I value the partnership with parents and caregivers. I feel privileged to support families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, when everything can feel uncertain and decisions come with real worry, nuanced tradeoffs, and competing risks and benefits. I love being a guide and educator, helping parents understand what’s happening, feel supported, and make confident choices that fit their child and their values. At its core, pediatrics is advocacy. Children cannot fully speak up for themselves, and they deserve clinicians who will, in partnership with their parents and caregivers, protect them, fight for their needs, and help secure healthy futures.

What unique qualities, skills, or services set you apart, and how do you build a positive rapport with patients and their families?

What sets me apart is a combination of strong relationship-building and rigorous clinical precision. I work hard to create a calm, welcoming environment, using warmth and humor to put children, parents, and caregivers at ease, especially during tense or uncertain moments. Families can expect clear communication, close listening, and a genuine sense of partnership.

Clinically, I’m highly detail-oriented and deeply evidence-based. I follow established guidelines whenever possible, and when the evidence is limited, I rely on the best available data and sound clinical judgment to tailor decisions to each child’s situation. I take every concern seriously, no matter how minor it may seem, because small details often matter.

I genuinely love what I do, and I feel a profound responsibility for my patients and their families. My goal is for every family to leave feeling informed, reassured, and confident in the plan.

How do you accommodate patients with special needs?

As a fellowship-trained pediatric hospitalist, I have specific subspecialty training and abundant experience caring for children with special needs and/or medical complexity. I always tell parents that they know their child better than I ever will, and ensure that we are partners in managing their child's health. I approach caring for children with special needs with an open mind, a meticulous, solutions-oriented approach to understanding what’s going on and what to do next, and a fierce commitment to advocacy.