Discover The Food Doctor

Hi, I'm Dr Jay Matthew, emergency physician, world traveler, business educator and entrepreneur, and the person behind The Food Doctor.

My journey to food writing started in the most unlikely place - the emergency room.

I've worked across multiple countries and healthcare settings, from bustling urban hospitals to remote clinics where resources were scarce but community was rich. In each place, I noticed something remarkable, that no matter where I went, food was the universal language. It was how people celebrated, how they healed, how they showed love, and how they built community. I found myself exploring local markets, sitting down with people over meals, and discovering that every cuisine told a story about survival, adaptation, and joy. I began to see food not just as fuel, but as medicine in the most holistic sense; nourishing body, mind, and soul.

My background taught me to think critically, assess quickly, and always seek evidence. But my travels taught me something just as important;  that health and well-being extend far beyond the hospital walls. They're found in the vibrant spices of a Moroccan tagine, the fermented wisdom of Korean kimchi, the communal joy of Italian family dinners, and the mindful simplicity of Japanese cuisine.

I've worked in multiple settings, each one deepening my understanding of how culture, environment, and food intersect to shape human health. These experiences changed how I view wellness; not as a rigid prescription, but as a beautiful, diverse canvas woven from local ingredients, traditional wisdom, and modern science.

When I'm not in a clinical space, I'm writing, teaching, and building. I've written extensively on health, technology, and business, exploring how innovation can improve lives and systems. As a business educator and entrepreneur, I've learned that the best solutions come from curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to look at problems from new angles.

I created The Food Doctor because I believe we deserve better than the usual binary of "eat this, not that." Food should be celebrated, not feared. Health should be empowering, not restrictive. And travel should expand our understanding of what it means to live well.