Matthew MacLennan was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a biomedical specialization, graduating with distinction from the University of New Brunswick (UNB). During his studies, he received NSERC funding and led senior projects focused on haptic robotics and motor control, including their application in rehabilitation devices.

Matthew completed his medical training at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB), where he discovered and pursued his passion for neurosurgery. He published several papers related to diseases and injuries of the central nervous system during his studies.

Beyond academics, Matthew has contributed well over 2,000 hours of volunteer service, including founding and serving as senior leadership for numerous organizations at local, provincial, national, and international levels. He has received several awards in recognition of his contributions, including the UNB Young Alumni Achievement Award, Sir Howard Douglas Scholar, among others.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys spending time at the gym, traveling, connecting with friends and family, and pursuing a recently discovered passion for poetry.