Dr. Susan L. Zito, DO, MPH, FACR - FLORIDA MAGAZINE

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Get to know Rheumatologist Dr. Susan L. Zito, who serves patients in Largo, Florida.

Dr. Zito is a board-certified rheumatologist who cares about the well-being of each patient, and remains committed to providing comprehensive health care in a manner which acknowledges the uniqueness and dignity of each patient. She is currently serving patients at Suncoast Rheumatology in Largo, Florida. Suncoast Rheumatology is an innovative, caring medical practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous autoimmune diseases and musculoskeletal conditions. 

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Zito earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from Des Moines UniversityCollege of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa in 2002 after a former career in medical journalism. During this time, she was awarded the Dorothy Diener Memorial Academic Scholarship twice and was President of the school’s chapter of the American Medical Student Association. She had previously earned a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida and a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After graduating from medical school, she went on to complete her internship and residency in internal medicine at Sun Coast Hospital in Largo. There, she served as co-chief resident and was awarded the Resident Instructor of the Year in 2004.  

Four years later, Dr. Zito was proudly named the Internal Medicine Clinical Instructor of the Year as part of her faculty appointment with the rheumatology fellowship and internal medicine residency programs at Largo Medical Center. She remains committed to peer education for her colleagues and is honored to actively mentor medical students and physicians in training. 

Since 2008, she has proudly earned the annual distinction in the top 5% of national physicians for the “Patient’s Choice Award” in Rheumatology.  This distinction is determined based on unsolicited patient reviews and multiple practice markers. Dr. Zito was also featured in the magazine Arthritis Today as one of their “Top Docs” in 2010 and has done medical expert segments for Lifetime Television Network’s morning show, Balancing Act. 

Among the doctor’s many achievements, she is board-certified in both internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world. Additionally, She is a Certified Clinical Densitometrist by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists.

Rheumatology is a branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Physicians who have undergone formal training in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. Rheumatologists treat arthritis, autoimmune diseases, pain disorders affecting joints, and osteoporosis. There are more than 200 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, and tendinitis. While Dr. Zito excels at all aspects of rheumatology, she has previously been involved in clinical research involving rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, and osteoarthritis. She has also published professionally in medical journals regarding the areas of vasculitis, mastocytosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.   

Personally, Dr. Zito enjoys spending most of her free time with her family, including her husband, two children, and several pets. They enjoy RV travelling, playing tennis, listening to music, reading, as well as having faith, partaking in community service, and helping to care for extended family.  

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