Emily Mattera’s Journey From Patient to Provider
Inspired by compassionate childhood medical care, Cedarville graduate Emily Mattera pursued nursing and became a pediatric nurse practitioner at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she combines clinical expertise, faith and compassion to serve families.
Emily Mattera was very sick as a child, undergoing extensive tests, bloodwork and infusions for years. During that time, she met the doctor who changed her life — not just because of the tests he ran but because of the patient-centered care he provided.
“His name was Dr. Patel,” Mattera said. “He brought a bit of playfulness to my visits and made such a difference in my life and my family’s.”
Between the appointments, check-ups and inside jokes, Mattera decided as a child that she wanted to care for people like Dr. Patel cared for her.
She followed through on that childhood dream. This past summer, Mattera celebrated nine years of working at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. From NICU to trauma PICU to her current role in urgent care as a nurse practitioner, Mattera has served children and their families while caring for their physical, emotional and personal needs.
“Nursing’s focus is on treating the whole person,” said Mattera. “And because of that background, nurse practitioners are able to approach things a bit differently.”
She graduated in 2017 from Cedarville University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Later that fall, she began studying pediatric acute care at The Ohio State University while also working night shift in the NICU, caring for premature infants with a lung disease common among babies born early.
After a year in the NICU, she transferred to the PICU trauma unit, where she worked night shift again, caring for children with life-threatening injuries
“I loved that job,” said Mattera. “We provided quality care, and the team was really good, particularly my team during the night.”
Less than two years into the job, Mattera encountered an issue with the fine print of her scholarships at OSU, leading her to take a year off, during which she met and married her husband. When it was time to return to school to complete her graduate degree, Mattera found Cedarville was the most affordable option.
When she began the nurse practitioner program at Cedarville, she shifted to a primary care track.
“It was like coming back home,” said Mattera. “You have people who care about you as an individual instead of just a seat number in a class.”
She has experienced that care long after graduation. Nearly a decade later, Mattera continues to meet with Suzanne Lefever, associate dean for the school of nursing at Cedarville. They bonded during Mattera’s undergraduate studies over their shared interests and formed a friendship that has continued to grow since.
"I first met Emily when she visited as a prospective student,” said Lefever. “That initial connection started a relationship as student to faculty, and I am grateful to now call her both a colleague and dear friend. It has been my joy to watch Emily’s growth and reliance on the Lord not only as a nurse but in her life through marriage and motherhood.”
After five years in the PICU, she graduated from Cedarville as a nurse practitioner and transferred to the outpatient clinic in oncology care. Shortly after, she found out she was pregnant with her first child.
She started considering work that would allow her to be more present with her growing family. She transferred to the urgent care network, where providers serve about 24 patients each in a typical eight-hour shift.
Whether caring for premature babies with a severe lung disease or helping children in urgent care, Mattera has continued to fulfill her childhood dream.
“There are really hard days where you feel like you’re not making a difference,” said Mattera. “But it just takes one good interaction with a patient or family to remind you why you got into the field in the first place. Nursing really is a ministry. We have the unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a very tangible way. Even if they don’t remember my name, they’ll remember how I cared for them.”
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,542 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2027 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.