FEBRUARY 24 • 2022 | 29

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“It’s time for someone with new ideas 
and energy to come in,” said Zazove, 
who turned 70 in 2021. “Also, I’m 
ready to spend more time with my wife 
(Barbara Reed, M.D., MSPH, professor 
emeritus of family medicine at U-M).”
Zazove, who has been a member of 
Temple Beth Emeth and the Jewish 
Community Center in Ann Arbor, 
leaves behind a tremendous legacy as 
a deaf clinician and researcher. He has 
tirelessly advocated for health care for 
people with disabilities and has pushed 
for changes that have opened access to 
medical school education to students 
who also have disabilities, not only at the 
University of Michigan but across the 
globe. 
“There’s so much work to be done in 
improving the health and lives of people 
with disabilities — and most of us will 
develop a disability at some point in our 
lives,” he said.
Zazove said that many physicians still 
are unaware of the health care expe-
riences and accommodation needs of 
those with disabilities. Many clinicians 
also feel uncomfortable treating this 

patient population, even though over 
20% of Americans (approximately 61 
million people) have a disability. 
Under Zazove’s leadership, the 
Department of Family Medicine fac-
ulty has taken an active role in caring 
for those with disabilities. They have 
also advocated for making changes in 
COVID vaccine site layouts so that 
patients with all types of disabilities can 
use them. 
Their work also includes the estab-
lishment of Michigan Medicine’s Deaf 
Health Clinic. Zazove, along with 
Michael M. McKee, M.D., MPH, who 
also has hearing loss, serve as co-direc-
tors. The Deaf Health Clinic is the only 
one of its kind in Michigan and is in 
Dexter. The clinic serves deaf patients 
from across the state. 
Faculty also have conducted a wide 
range of research, including studies that 
have impacted those with disabilities.
“We have an amazing group of high-
ly-skilled researchers in our depart-
ment,” Zazove said. “Their expertise in 
so many areas, including women’s health, 
deafness, disabilities, adolescence, dia-

betes and mixed methods research is 
inspiring. The impact of so many of our 
findings on so many people worldwide 
has been gratifying for me as department 
chair. It’s why we all went into health 
care — to help our fellow humans.”
Zazove and Family Medicine faculty 
have also helped increase basic aware-
ness that those with disabilities have the 
right to practice medicine if that is a 
career they wish to pursue. This includes 
addressing inappropriate technical stan-
dards for admission to medical schools; 
the provision of accommodations that 
are appropriate for medical students; and 
working with state and national organi-
zations to support medical professionals 
with disabilities.

CHARTING HIS OWN COURSE 
AS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN
As someone who grew up in the 1950s 
and ’60s, Zazove knows the daily obsta-
cles that someone who is deaf or hard of 
hearing faces. Some of these barriers still 
exist today. 
Though academic and professional 
expectations were low for Zazove, his 

Dr. Philip Zazove is 
pictured with Ellie 
Barron, a patient of his 
who is now a freshman 
in the honors program 
at Michigan State 
University.