Matt Zinter, MD

Dr. Matt Zinter is a pediatric critical care specialist who treats children when they have life-threatening illness or injury. He specializes in caring for children with cancer or immune disorders as well as those who have had stem cell transplants or other cellular therapies. Seeking to bring healing and hope to critically ill children, he combines compassionate bedside care with cutting-edge science and opportunities to join clinical trials (studies of promising new treatments). He is program director for pediatric immunocompromised critical care at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals.

Zinter's research program focuses on understanding why children may develop difficulty breathing after an infection or injury to the lung. Partnering with patients and their families, his laboratory studies the lung microbiome (which comprises the bacteria, viruses and fungi living inside the lung) and measures inflammation and tissue stress in the lungs. His aim is to develop new diagnostic tests and treatments for children with lung diseases and other serious health problems.

Zinter earned his medical degree at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at UCSF.