Susan L. Zito, DO, MPH, FACOI, FACR

Dr. Zito received her medical degree from Des Moines University 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 Masters of Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL and a Bachelors Degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Zito completed her Internal Medicine internship and residency at Sun Coast Hospital in Largo, FL. She was co-chief resident and awarded the Resident Instructor of the Year in 2004. She is an active fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and was fellowship trained in her subspecialty from Nova Southeastern University via Bay Pines VA Medical Center and Sun Coast Hospital. She is also honored with the distinction of fellow from the American College of Osteopathic Internists.

Dr. Zito is dually board certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine. She is a fellow of the American College of Ethical Physicians and a Certified Clinical Densitometrist by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. In 2008, 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 - Largo, FL. She remains committed to peer education for her colleagues and is honored to actively mentor medical students and physicians in training.

Since 2008, Dr. Zito 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. She also was 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. In 2019 she was also named Physician of the Year by the Pinellas County Osteopathic Medical Society and one of Tampa Bay's Top Docs in Tampa Bay Magazine.

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, Mastocystosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Personally, when Dr. Zito, who is a vegetarian, is striving to keep her patients happy and healthy, she enjoys spending most of her free time with family- husband, 2 children and several pets. They enjoy RV travelling, tennis, music, reading, faith, community service and helping to care for extended family.