Welcome to my home page! I have had the privilege of practicing with The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) in the East Bay since 2007. I grew up in a small town in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan for both my undergraduate and medical training. I completed my general surgical training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles followed by additional specialty training in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota before making my way to the Bay Area where my wife was raised. I have lived in the east bay since then with her and our two boys.

At this point in my career, I am most focused on two priorities. Developing excellence and promoting innovation in the care for patients with anorectal conditions and continuously reimagining how our care in Kaiser Permanente can be improved to promote value-based health care delivery.

Anorectal conditions are incredibly common problems. But the location and nature of these conditions cause many of my patients to feel that they are one of only a handful of people that have ever experienced their symptoms since people with these diagnoses may never share their own experiences with others including their closest friends and family. While the surgeries and treatments to correct these conditions are often relatively straightforward and considered minor from a technical standpoint by many surgeons, I understand the personal impact on these processes for many folks can be painful, debilitating and even embarrassing.

Office-based surgery
In the United States, most anorectal surgeries are currently performed in the hospital operating room. We have found that we are able to perform most of our anorectal surgeries effectively and nearly painlessly in the convenience and improved safety of an office setting using techniques adapted from other surgical disciplines. The majority of the patients that I see are offered their procedure during the same time as their consultative appointment if surgical treatment is indicated.

Plant-based diet and GI health
The health benefits of a plant-based diet are myriad and well-established. What is less often discussed is the positive effect on GI health from maintaining a higher fiber diet, which is a derivative from a diet including many whole plants. Many of my patients who have adopted a plant-based diet have found they have had significant improvements in some of the more common anorectal conditions. If you are considering a plant-based diet, you may find it will be helpful for the conditions I see you for as well.

Mind-body connection in anorectal disease
The relationship of mental health and physical health for many conditions is well-established. It is no less true for anorectal conditions, especially anal pain and discomfort. These processes often move in tandem. If I ask you about optimizing your mental health, especially the symptoms of anxiety or depression, this is not intended to diminish the presence of your physical symptoms.

My practice at Kaiser Permanente allows me the balance to be able to spend time investing in my relationships with family and friends while not in the office. In the winter, I make a commitment to enjoy downhill skiing as frequently as possible. In the summer, I love to camp and backpack. It is wonderful to discover the beautiful alpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Trinity Alps, as well as explore more diverse terrain such as Joshua Tree and the Black Rock Desert.

Matt Dixon, MD
Pronouns: He, Him