Dr. Matt Vail attended the University of Washington, Seattle, where he received his BS degree in zoology in 1990. He was in the golden key honor society and dean's academic list. He completed his medical degree in 1984 at IU School of Medicine and served his internship and Residency at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Dr. Vail furthered his medical education in a fellowship program in Infectious Diseases from IU School of Medicine in 1999.

He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, Indiana State Medical Association and Infectious Diseases Society of America. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases.