Those who have chosen a field in medicine, often struggle with the paradox of striving to save/cure patients versus aggressively treating the patient’s needs through comfort and palliative care options, particularly when the disease process and decline are irreversible.

One special physician that does embrace quality patient care related needs of those facing end of life is Gateway Hospice Associate Medical Director Dr Myles Zuckerman.

Dr. Zuckerman was introduced to Gateway Hospice in 2006 when his own father was in need of hospice care. As he was caring for his father, Dr. Zuckerman found himself very impressed with the care of his father and the support that he, himself received. This experience convinced him to be a part of the Gateway team as an Associate Medical Director. “I was happy to have an opportunity to enter the world of hospice care through working with the professionals at Gateway Hospice,” states Dr. Zuckerman.

For Dr. “Z” (as his Gateway team fondly refers to him) the role of hospice care physician and the role of family practice doctor are not so different. “In many ways it is the same philosophy,” states Dr. Z. “That philosophy involves making any testing and treatment decisions in cooperation with my patients and their relatives, not in isolation from them, and recognizing that we are treating people and not diseases. We, as health care providers, need to constantly question what we do, and make sure that it’s for our patients’ benefit. This is a good approach at every stage of life.”

In his more than 23 years of medical practice, Dr. Zuckerman has become increasingly open and sensitive to the many challenges facing patients and their families as they struggle with countless healthcare decisions. Not only does Dr Z operate a Family Practice (with his supportive physician wife Sara) in Crafton, Dr. Z has been instrumental in his medical role at Gateway since 2006.
Dr Z knows only too well the many patients and families that do benefit from end of life consultation-having choices. Often times, emphasis is placed on curative measures and treatments, but Dr Z has a unique gift of listening and responding to his patients needs which is hand in hand with Gateway’s philosophy

Dr Z goes above and beyond to emphasize the option of comfort based care. He believes that dignity and control of symptoms for a disease process that is non reversible is a viable option. Dr Zuckerman suggests sharing end of life options more timely and more directly with patients and families in need.