Deborah A. Schaefer, DO

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to help other people. As I got older, my love of helping others grew into a desire to help people become healthier and to live longer, more fulfilling lives. During medical school, I realized that primary care guides patients’ health most profoundly by teaching patients about health maintenance and preventive care. I felt that my ability to communicate with patients would be best utilized in the specialty of family medicine. The connections I make with patients every day as a part of NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island are instrumental to their current and future health and wellness.

I care for patients who are 18 years and older. I see people for checkups and those who want to maintain their health by getting preventive medical care. I educate them as best I can by providing resources for continued good health. In addition, I see patients with multiple comorbidities and conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, coronary artery disease, thyroid disease, anxiety, and depression. Our team helps these patients navigate their own personal health journeys. I also provide women's wellness in the office, which includes annual Pap tests and breast exams.

I am able to certify patients, when necessary, in the use of the medical marijuana program in the state of New York. I was one of the first doctors in New York to take the coursework necessary to do this and am able to help my patients with chronic pain, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV and AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Oncologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, and pain management specialists send patients to me to participate in this program, which is vital for their health journey.

At NYU Langone Medical Associates—Shoreham, the care my team and I provide is comprehensive and compassionate. Our team is highly professional, intelligent, and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our patients’ needs are met.

As a professor and adjunct faculty member at multiple medical schools over the past 25 years, I have tried to mold new doctors into excellent primary care physicians. I have participated in studies that have appeared in the Journal of Emergency Medicine. I am very proud of my students and have been mentioned in their research work over the years.