Dr. Zalak Patel joined the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine as an Instructor in July 2024. Originally from Ahmedabad, India, she earned her medical degree from Gujarat University in 2019 after attending Smt N.H.L. Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad. During medical school, she cultivated a love of teaching by tutoring undergraduate medical students. After graduating, she served as a medical officer in various Indian hospitals, focusing on providing healthcare to the less privileged population of India. During her time in India, Dr. Patel also volunteered at the Blind People Association, where she played a significant role in creating audiobooks for visually impaired physiotherapy students.
Dr. Patel relocated to the USA in 2021 and completed her internship and residency at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine – St Bernardine Medical Center, CA before joining the Division of Hospital Medicine at Washington University in 2024. Throughout her training, she demonstrated a wide range of interests and actively participated in numerous research projects and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Patel is extremely passionate about teaching and is dedicated to working with both medical students and residents. Her primary focus in medicine lies in general internal medicine with an emphasis on inpatient care, and she has a particular interest in rheumatology. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys playing tennis, exploring new culinary experiences, hiking, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Dr. Patel is enthusiastic about providing exceptional care to her patients as a valued member of the Division of Hospital Medicine.