Practicing the Golden Rule

Dr. Ann Zhou empowers her patients to strive for optimal health.

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For nearly a century, Facey Medical Group has taken care of families throughout the San Fernando Valley—demonstrating a commitment to clinical expertise, service, innovation and quality care. Knowing that primary care is the foundation of good health, the primary care providers (PCPs) at Facey Medical Group focus on not only treatment but also prevention, health education and the well-being of the whole family.

It’s a relationship that goes beyond prescriptions and covers many important health issues. A PCP who specializes in family medicine knows her patients best and is their first resource for all health care decisions.

“Patient motivation is key.”

Board-certified family medicine physician Ann Zhou, DO, strives to be her patients’ closest partner when it comes to maintaining optimal health and wellness. She grew up in Agoura Hills and knew while attending Agoura High School that she would go into the medical field. She shadowed a few professions, and the family doctors stood out to her as people who loved their jobs.

“I admired the trust and unique relationship they had with their patients,” Dr. Zhou explains. “I decided to start my journey in medicine after that.”

After earning her undergraduate degree from UCLA, she earned her medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at Medical City Fort Worth. After college, she achieved her goal of traveling around the U.S. before starting her medical career in Downtown Los Angeles.

“I worked with the underserved population, practicing full-spectrum medicine and performing office-based procedures such as joint injections, skin biopsies, IUD/Nexplanon insertions, cryotherapy and many other services,” she says.

Eventually, the Valley called out to Dr. Zhou. “I am happy to be back in my hometown region, away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” says the doctor, who now treats patients at Facey’s Porter Ranch location.

When she’s not working, Dr. Zhou enjoys gardening, traveling and going to Disneyland. She makes time to exercise each morning—just one of the ways she sets a good example for her patients to take care of themselves.

“Patient motivation is key,” she says about the quest for good health. “I try to see what motivates them to be healthier. I also encourage routine checkups and take time to counsel my patients regarding lifestyle modifications and preventative practices.”

As a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), Dr. Zhou practices the osteopathic philosophy of treating the patient as a whole person. “Each part of the body is interconnected and may affect one another,” she points out. “I offer alternative therapies such as trigger point injections for chronic pain relief. I take the time to sit down and develop a narcotic-sparing and holistic plan for my patients.”

Unlike a specialist, she offers medical counseling, health monitoring, day-to-day treatments, annual checkups, screenings and physicals—building a personal understanding of each patient’s specific medical record and conditions. She can then use this knowledge to collaborate with medical specialists and provide just the right individualized treatments.

What’s most important to Dr. Zhou when it comes to making a difference in the overall well-being of her patients? It’s the Golden Rule of medicine, and she knows it well: “I listen to each patient and try to treat them how I wish to be treated.”