Northwest Radiology would not be successful without the hard work and commitment of our dedicated team! We are proud to have such outstanding team members who not only provide exceptional care to our clients, but who also work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly every day.
We want to thank our team members for their service and show everyone what a wonderful team we have, so we want you to “Meet the NWR Team.”
Please meet … Dr. Matthew Locker. He joined the team in 2015, making this year his two-year anniversary with Northwest Radiology! Learn more about Dr. Locker.
Q: What is your title and role with NWR?
A: I am a Radiologist who specializes in Breast Imaging. The majority of my time is spent reading mammograms and other advanced imaging modalities related to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Q: Why did you choose to work in the field of radiology and, specifically, your subspecialty?
A: I was originally trained as an industrial engineer, so the technical aspects of Radiology certainly appealed to me — i.e. the cutting-edge imaging modalities utilized in Radiology, being able to answer the important questions other doctors have in the care of their patients, and the work-life balance of the practice.
Specifically with respect to my specialty of Breast Imaging, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer early in my Radiology residency, and I was so thankful to the Radiologist that made her diagnosis EARLY, allowing her to undergo treatment EARLY, and ultimately help her to survive today, almost 10 years since the original diagnosis.
This doctor was behind the scenes taking care of my mom, essentially nameless and faceless, but for me this doctor played a very integral role in saving her life. I try to remember that every time I read my patient’s mammograms.
Q: How did you get started with Northwest Radiology? Why have you stayed?
A: I had always known that Northwest Radiology was the premiere Radiology practice in the state of Indiana since going through medical school here at I.U. in Indianapolis. I completed my residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas after that. My wife and I really wanted to get back to Indianapolis to be closer to my family living in Crawfordsville after completing six years of residency in Dallas. Texas was an excellent place to train, and we met a lot of very good, kind-hearted people there. But, ultimately, we realized we are Hoosiers at heart, and as they say “home is where the heart is,” and we discovered that to be truly the case having been apart from them for so long!
Q: Describe NWR in one word.
A: Compassionate
Q: Why would you tell someone to work for NWR?
A: NWR feels like a family. From the front-line office staff to the expert Radiologist who has been with the group more than 30 years, everyone is treated with kindness, respect and sincerity. And that seems to be a good recipe for business and life in general, and I’m humbled and excited to be a part of it!
Q: How have changes in technology affected your job and the radiology industry in general?
A: Recent changes in technology have greatly impacted the practice of Breast Imaging for the better. MRI of the breast is a very sensitive exam to determine the complete extent of disease in patients already diagnosed with breast cancer (in order to ensure the complete area is treated appropriately with nothing left behind), and has also proven valuable for screening women that have a very high risk of breast cancer (family history, genetic predisposition such as BRCA gene mutation) because it is exquisitely sensitive for the detection of breast cancer, even when less then 1.0 cm in size.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: My wife and I like to travel in our free time, and we are always looking for ways to discipline our little dog “Rocky” (Jack Russell Terrier), but our efforts have proven mostly unsuccessful.
My wife, Carolina, and I started a business called “Colombian Girl Jewelry” while completing residency in Dallas. Carolina is originally from Colombia and wanted to start the business for two reasons: 1. To expose women living in the U.S. to the incredible form of jewelry native to her country, made entirely from fruit (orange peel, cantaloupe seeds, coffee beans, and acai berries, among other seed types); and 2. To help a small group of Colombian women artisans who make the jewelry, all with their hands! We built the website and started attending fairs nearly every weekend while in Dallas and had a blast bringing this incredible jewelry product to this country. Her website can be found at the following link: http://www.
