Growing up north of New York City, Dr. Z began studying painting and drawing early on. Traveling to each of America's National Parks by the end of grade school connected his reverence for the arts with an awe of nature. Trading his pencil for a pick, and his paint for electricity, his love affair with the electric guitar began. And the woods never seemed to leave him.

A repetitive stress injury rudely derailed his rock n' roll path. Frustrated by conventional medicine's limited offerings, he turned to other tools: natural foods, yoga, supplements. This eventually pointed the way to energetically based systems, such as Qi and chakras. Mind-body medicine, including meditation and mindfulness, ultimately unlocked the treasure chest to healing himself.

During his post-baccalaureate studies, Dr.Z researched music with Dr. Oz at Columbia University. It was upon the Blue Ridge Mountains he earned his medical degree at the University of Virginia. He received the prestigious C Richard Bowman Scholarship Award and was elected to the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism in Medicine. Unfortunately, he simultaneously took a crash course in compassion and empathy as his father succumbed to cancer. He understands the value of a trustworthy, relatable physician while negotiating the unpredictability of illness. Honoring both his formal and informal training, Dr.Z considers his relationship with his patients sacred.