Helping people take control of their own healthcare is Dr. David Zitner’s passion.

The Dalhousie graduate (MD ’74 Post Internship) and former Dal professor is the co-author of two books, along with his friend and colleague, Dr. H. Dominic Covvey, intended to empower patients and enhance collaboration across the health-care sector.

The Nature of Clinical Care - Volume 1: A Gentle Introduction and The Nature of Clinical Care – Volume 2 Mental Health and Public Health Care are increasingly important in the age of “Dr. Google.”

Today, navigating the health-care system is fraught with conflicting information given the myriad of advice patients can access online. These books offer a sound foundation of knowledge and a clear path toward informed and critical decision-making.

“Patients really should be the boss of their own healthcare,” says Dr. Zitner, emphasizing that patients are often both the most motivated and least informed individuals in the care process.

Critical thinking to empower patients

In the book, Dr. Zitner and the late Dr. Covvey, a former University of Waterloo professor who established the National Institutes of Health Informatics, introduce readers to clinical fundamentals. They lay out practical knowledge that will enable them to participate actively in health decisions. They also explain the reasoning behind medical diagnoses, the implications of treatments, and the risks versus rewards of various interventions.

Critically thinking about healthcare was a practice his family valued, Dr. Zitner recalls, and one both he and his colleague Dr. Covvey embraced.

Although Dr. Zitner’s parents had limited formal education, they were keen observers who often questioned doctors’ advice, especially concerning major medical decisions. Reflecting on their perspective, Dr. Zitner noted his parents were "always correct," showing a natural, instinctive caution that later shaped his own approach to medicine.

In addition to shaping Dr. Zitner’s views on medicine, his parents, although not enthusiastic about him attending medical school, taught him the value of finding a purpose in life. They strongly believed that "it’s not important how you make a living, but how you spend your life," he says, a philosophy that guided him throughout his career.

This grounded parental advice shaped Dr. Zitner’s dedication to meaningful patient care throughout his health-care career, which encompassed both clinical family practice and academia through a professorship at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine, as well as his writing in academic and popular press, and his work with community organizations to increase citizen involvement and engagement in health care.

A lifelong mission to empower patients

Dr. Zitner has long guided his patients about the importance of asking questions about their care, believing patient awareness enhances clinical outcomes and reduces errors.

“We wrote this book so that patients could get the information they need to understand healthcare... and to collaborate and work with clinicians in their own care,” he explains.

Throughout his extensive career in family medicine, Dr. Zitner has also been a trailblazer in medicine, founding the Graduate Program in Health Informatics at Dalhousie to advance health data and systems. He insists that equipping patients, administrators, and clinicians with this knowledge is crucial in today’s age of artificial intelligence and internet-based health advice, helping them assess whether information—be it from doctors or world-wide web—is beneficial or potentially harmful.

To purchase a copy of Dr. Zitner’s and Dr. Covvey’s books, visit Indigo Bookstores, Amazon, or Google Books.