Irene P Mathieu, MD, MPH

Irène Mathieu, MD, MPH, is a primary care pediatrician who offers trauma-informed, primary care for English- and Spanish-speaking patients at the Birdsong Clinic in Charlottesville. “I love connecting with young people and their families. My goal is for my patients to feel seen, cared for, and empowered,” she says.

Born in Washington, D.C., Dr. Mathieu grew up in Virginia, and spent many of her younger years in Charlottesville. She majored in international relations at William & Mary, and after graduation she spent a year living in the Dominican Republic, where she did research as a Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Mathieu then attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

After completing a general pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she came to UVA and joined the faculty. In 2023, she completed her master’s degree in public health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Mathieu leads the Wellness And Youth Social action (WAYS) Lab and is core faculty in the School of Medicine’s Center for Health Humanities and Ethics.

Through her experiences in research and global healthcare, Dr. Mathieu became keenly interested in child health equity. When asked why she chose academic medicine, she says, “I love being able to work on issues of equity through patient care, research, and teaching.”

In addition to being a doctor, a researcher, and a teacher, she also is a published poet, a novelist, and a mother. She greatly enjoys food and travel. In her free time, she loves swimming, running, and hiking.

Gender

Female

Languages

Spanish, English

Age Groups Seen

Infants (0-2)
Children (2-12)
Adolescents (12-21)

Primary Education

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Certification

American Board of Pediatrics (Pediatrics)