When Vito Zuna, PA-C, was assigned to Zufall Health – Morristown as his first clinical rotation in graduate school, he didn’t expect he’d be in the same health system nearly a decade later. But after witnessing how deeply patients valued the care they received—and how closely their stories resembled his own—he knew he’d found where he belonged.

“Patients had few options, similar to my family. That Zufall was one of the only places where they could get care—and care of such high quality—made them so appreciative,” said Zuna, who moved to the U.S. with his family at age 5 and spent many years without insurance. “The same is true in my work as a physician assistant in West Orange today. To see patients arrive so sick and lost, then return transformed and grateful, affirms why I chose this path.”

Zuna’s drive to help others is rooted in his upbringing. His father instilled in him the importance of education, hard work, and a career that makes a difference. From an early age, he aspired to pursue medicine, particularly with underserved populations, as a way to live out those values.

While Zuna practices family medicine, or primary care for all ages, he has developed a considerable focus on older adults. He serves as the lead medical provider for Zufall’s integrated primary care and case management program for Essex County residents age 65+, funded by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey since 2023. In this program, he collaborates with clinical pharmacy, nutrition, nurse case management, outreach, and—with the upcoming addition of vision services at West Orange—optometry. The goal is to leverage team-based care to promote self-sufficiency, and reduce emergency utilization for seniors, as illustrated by one patient in her 60s who, with coordination from Zuna and team, received an affordable mammogram that detected cancer and is now cancer-free.

“And an example like this shows just why centers like Zufall matter so much. We prevent catastrophes before they happen, for the people who are most likely to otherwise go without care. It’s an honor to be part of that safety net.”

Zuna holds master’s of science degrees in biomedical science and physician assistant studies from Rutgers School of Health Professions, formerly known as UMDNJ, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Seton Hall University. He is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Above: Zuna (right) reviews a treatment plan with a patient.