PROVO -- While traveling with the BYU women's gymnastics team in Cancun, Mexico, for the Cancun Classic Invitational, team physician Dr. Matthew Roush suffered a heart attack at the team's hotel. Roush passed away Saturday, January 8, as a result of complications from the heart attack. Roush's wife, Tiffany, was in Cancun with the team and was at his side when he passed away.
"Dr. Roush was a very dear, personal friend," BYU head trainer George Curtis said. "I don't think we will begin to fully comprehend this tragic news for some time. He was a very dedicated physician, not only to the BYU athletics program, but also to the sports medicine program he directed for IHC. This is a great loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at this time."
Dr. Roush, who had served as a team physician at BYU for the past year, was the director of the Utah Valley Sports Medicine Clinic in Provo. He also served as the director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program for Intermountain Health Care's Southern Region.
Roush (41), a native of Ogden, Utah, received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from BYU in 1987. While attending BYU, he was also a member of the rugby team. Roush received his medical degree from the University of Utah and completed his residency program at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. After his fellowship at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Ind., he served as the associate director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Ball Memorial Hospital. Roush also served as a team physician for Ball State University for 10 years until being recruited to IHC in 2003.
Roush is survived by his wife Tiffany and the couple's six children. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 15 at the Edgemont Stake Center in Provo. The service will begin at 11 a.m. A viewing is scheduled from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday at the Stake Center.
In honor of Dr. Roush, the main flag on campus will be lowered to half staff on Friday.