Bassem I. Zaki, MD

The most rewarding aspect of my work is following patients throughout their journey. I enjoy witnessing the positive impact on their everyday life. My motivation for entering medicine stems from the deep fulfillment I experience in healing others. From initial symptoms to diagnosis and treatment. I enjoy witnessing improvement in their health and well-being. The GI specialty is particularly rewarding because the right treatment plan can enhance a patient's quality of life. Patients appreciate that I'm patient, approachable, and offer a non-judgmental view. I ensure that my patients feel heard and empowered to ask questions. I invite them to share any questions, fostering an environment of encouragement.

After working as a bedside registered nurse and as a nurse at a summer camp for individuals with disabilities, I became passionate about providing health care to individuals with disabilities. I decided to continue my education to become a family nurse practitioner with additional training in intellectual and developmental disabilities. My goal is to be approachable and easy to talk to, and to provide care that is individualized, compassionate and comprehensive.

I love that Dermatology lets me work with all kinds of patients from different backgrounds and ages. Although skin problems might seem trivial to some, they can deeply hurt a persons self-esteem. People don't always realize how much suffering comes from having a skin disease. I take this very seriously and see it as my job to guide my patients through their entire healing process. Another reason I became a doctor in my field is because it is a fun, diverse specialty and also very hands-on. It is gratifying to be able to intervene both medically and surgically. One of my goals is to educate my patients and help them achieve control of their skin problem, and thereby, enjoy of a better and easier life. To me, it is so important to give them hope in that I will be able to help them. I also strive to provide a personalized and outstanding healthcare experience. The best part of my job is nurturing relationships with my patients and seeing them thrive because of what I can help them with. I'm proud to say that I am originally from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. I'm lucky to be married to my best friend, Alex, and we are blessed to share our lives with our two young daughters. I enjoy reading, traveling, yoga, being a plant-mom, and live music.