book Tele-Med

Meet Dr. Zandi

Embark on a journey to empower, transform, and heal one patient at a time

A Journey from UC Berkeley to Mind/Body Medicine Advocate

Dr. Dariush Zandi embarked on his remarkable journey toward becoming a medical professional starting at UC Berkeley and then completing his medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine and residency at Henry Ford Hospital. During this formative period, he developed a profound interest in the intricate connection between the mind and body.

A pivotal moment in Dr. Zandi's journey occurred during his time working alongside the esteemed Dr. Miriam Diamond at UC Berkeley, who analyzed Einstein's brain to see what sets it apart from others. She discovered that his brain had more glial cells that support the neurons. Dr. Diamond's groundbreaking work inspired him and opened his eyes to the profound complexity of the human brain in monitoring and controlling the body through the endocrine and nervous systems with the scientific name of psychoneuroendocrinology.

Inspired by his experiences with Dr. Diamond, Dr. Zandi felt a strong calling to delve deeper into the realm and interplay of mind/body medicine. Dr. Zandi was involved in her lab to see the neuroplasticity of neurons and the function of glial cells that supported the neurons. In simple terms, the brain’s ability changes based on the stimuli from the environment and the feedback from the body. Thus emphasizing the role of mind-body connection and recognizing the power of holistic approaches to healthcare, he was motivated to explore how understanding the interplay between mental and physical well-being could lead to more effective and sustainable healing solutions.

Dr. Zandi’s journey in medicine has led him to a profound realization: as that a healthy lifestyle holds the key to disease prevention. With a keen understanding of the mind-body connection, he advocates for a holistic approach that emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance in both mental and physical aspects of health. This philosophy has become the driving force behind Dr. Zandi's medical practice both as a patient and a physician. 

Shortly after having COVID, he developed a painful immune-mediated condition where the immune system attacks the musculoskeletal system due to an uncontrolled immune system as a result of lowered cortisol level or adrenal deficiency. This condition is known as Polymyalgia Rheumatica, or PMR for short. After taking 3 days of prednisone, he was free of pain and felt like he was in his twenties physically and mentally, emphasizing the strong interplay of mind-body connections through the endocrine and nervous systems. Unfortunately, as powerful as prednisone was, it caused a dose-related weight gain. As a result, he devoted his practice to the prevention and root cause of disease rather than treating the symptoms. He realized that weight loss was the most effective and the least expensive method to achieve this.

Dr. Zandi’s favorite subjects at Berkeley and Medical school were Biochemistry and Endocrinology, which he tutored at both institutions. After 20 years of being in practice, he had  to go back to the drawing board to find the interplay of the hormones and our bodies' metabolism that was the root cause of weight loss. In his weight loss journey, he realized that balancing the hormones has a key role in mediating weight gain. When 5 hormones, including insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. growth hormone and adrenaline are not in synchrony, we gain weight, especially as we age. The goal is to change our lifestyle to control the hormones, once again reiterating the power of mind-body interplay.

Dr. Zandi has emerged as a respected medical professional with a Doctor of the Year award in 2024 in primary care and weight loss. He has also been nominated to advise the San Francisco 49rs with prevention and weight loss. His mission is to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to achieve optimal health and well-being, ultimately leading to a better quality of life.

Explore Dr. Zandi's transformative journey and discover how his passion for mind/body medicine is reshaping the landscape of healthcare, one patient at a time.