Dr. Peter Zonakis pictured with his dogs!
Provider Spotlight: Get to Know Dr. Peter Zonakis
Introducing MRH’s newest ear, nose and throat doctor, Peter M. Zonakis, MD, FACS
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Dr. Peter Zonakis, board-certified ENT specialist
Memorial Regional Health is proud to offer high-quality services for ears, nose and throat (ENT) to individuals and families in Craig at our Medical Clinic and in Steamboat at our Specialty Clinic. No matter how minor or severe your condition might be, we will ensure you receive the best care necessary.
We are excited to introduce a new face, Dr. Peter M. Zonakis, and his specialty — your face. Dr. Zonakis joined the team as our new ENT provider in December 2021.
From the Midwest to the West Coast and now the Mountain West, when asked about his career Dr. Zonakis referenced the Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere.” He first received his medical degree in Indiana, had his Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery residency and General Surgery internship in Michigan and then went on to practice medicine in Indiana, Arizona and Colorado.
When we talked with Dr. Zonakis about his career and asked why he wanted to be a doctor, his answer was simple — to solve problems. We also discussed his career history and goals as he begins his journey at MRH.
Q: What inspired your career in healthcare?
Dr. Zonakis: I came of age when Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy [of ‘Star Trek’] was the role model for being a doctor. He could always cure anything that came in from across the galaxy. Medicine is full of problems that people have and a physician is a blend of a detective solving a mystery and a good teacher.
Q: Why did you choose to study otolaryngology?
Dr. Zonakis: I chose to study the structure of the head and neck because it just seemed to make more sense to me. It became enjoyable and I wanted to study more. What really got me excited is facial reconstruction.
Everyone knows what a face looks like, but when you deal with a serious event like cancer or trauma, the goal is to put it back together, make it functional and make it look good. It requires a lot of creativity, thinking and experience, and that’s what I enjoy the most in my specialty.
Ear, Nose and Throat Care (ENT) at MRH
Whether you’re suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, experiencing frequent ear infections or have a sore throat, there are several reasons you may need to see an ENT specialist. The ENT team at Memorial Regional Health will work with you to diagnose and help treat a wide variety of ears, nose and throat conditions.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Peter Zonakis in Craig at the Medical Clinic or at the Steamboat Signature Specialty Clinic, call 970-826-2450.
Dr. Zonakis pictured with his wife.
Fun facts and favorites with Peter
Click on the boxes below to learn more about Dr. Zonakis!
Q: What would you say is your proudest career accomplishment so far?
Dr. Zonakis: That is a hard question.
Sometimes the things you don’t do can be memorable. I once had a patient who came in because he was having sinus headaches. I could have just given him a prescription or told him to go home and take over-the-counter medication to help. But, in the process of him telling me about his headaches, I ordered an emergency MRI and we found out he had a subdural hematoma that was on both sides of his brain.
I was able to make the diagnosis because I was listening to the description of the symptoms along with his choice of words and he survived. There are subtle things that patients say, or don’t say, that can help a doctor make a diagnosis.
Another moment that comes to mind was very early in my career. There was a child with an obstructed airway, and he was to get a breathing tube in. The child was about 3 years old and at the bedside, I performed an emergency tracheotomy and even though it was a challenge for me to do, he survived. I found out that he went on to graduate from Purdue University. Those kinds of moments stick with you.
Q: What is your main goal in how you approach patient care?
Dr. Zonakis: I love the connections I make with my patients. Whoever you meet in life, you are always going to have something in common with them, it’s just the matter of finding out what it is. And as a doctor, if you can do that while someone is telling you about their sore throat, earache or sinus problem, it strengthens the doctor-patient relationship.
Q: In your new role at MRH, how do you plan to help community members in Craig?
Dr. Zonakis: What brought me to Craig was an opportunity and a need. It’s exciting to work in a small area that needs these services. Given the size of the hospital and community, as a doctor, you can make a real difference in a hurry. My goal is to just be an ENT specialist and do what needs to be done and to do it well.
