About
Ali Zirakzadeh, MD, is a Colorado native who is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Arts in molecular biology/biochemistry from University of Colorado, Boulder. He then acquired his medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico, where he ranked number one in his class and was honored with the “Top Student” award. Dr. Zirakzadeh completed his internal medicine residency at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA, and his fellowship and graduate studies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where he also received his Master of Science in clinical research. He worked in the infectious disease lab of Dr. Robin Patel studying enterococcus infections in stem cell transplant recipients.
Prior to joining Internal Medicine Associates of Boulder, Dr. Zirakzadeh was a physician at Denver Health for 12 years in one of its outpatient primary care clinics. Before this, he was on staff at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, in the department of General Internal Medicine - International Section, for four years. During his time at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Zirakzadeh conducted clinical research as a member of the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Research Center.
After arriving at Denver Health, he helped establish the Denver Health Tobacco Cessation Clinic, led its expansion to several clinics throughout Denver. He has served as its medical director since its inception. The model developed of delivering individual cessation services at a patient’s medical home, and now through virtual visits, is one of the most successful treatment programs available in the United States. Dr. Zirakzadeh has lectured throughout Colorado on tobacco-related issues, including youth vaping, over the last several years.
Dr. Zirakzadeh is currently an associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver, CO. He continues as a volunteer physician for Denver Health and as a consultant for the Denver Health Tobacco Cessation Clinic.
Dr. Zirakzadeh speaks Spanish, as well as English. When he’s not working with his patients or teaching, he runs a small limousine service for his two daughters shuttling them to and from dance, piano, swim and tennis classes. Beyond this, he also enjoys trail running throughout Colorado’s front range, skiing, playing tennis and playing the piano.