Find a Top Family Doctor Near Me in Maricopa, AZ – Book an Appointment Instantly

Hi there, my name is Bernadette Crovedi, mostly everyone calls me Berni. I moved to Arizona from Cleveland in 2006. I have 15 years of nursing experience, recently in the ER and ICU providing safe, high-quality care by using sound clinical judgement. Around 2018, I was called to provide preventative healthcare and decided to pursue my FNP. I am honest, direct and trustworthy. The care I deliver to my patients is individualized and directed with a holistic approach on prevention. As a nurse I have learned early interventions to lower or eliminate the risk of chronic illness setting in, therefore, I promote health and wellness in a loving manner.

Jessica is a board certified Physician Assistant. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Sioux Falls, followed by her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Union College in 2009. She spent over 8 years in the field of Family Medicine prior to specializing in Pain Management and Rehabilitation. Her time spent in primary care was essential to develop her understanding of acute and chronic pain, including its potentially debilitating effects. Jessica believes in building trusting relationships with her patients, and does this by listening and providing a comprehensive plan of care. She believes in teaching and empowering patients to make lifestyle changes, in conjunction with medical treatments, to take control of their pain. 

Jennifer Muhammad is a skilled and dedicated clinician that specializes in family healthcare. She is a dual certified Family & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree. Dr. Muhammad is your compassionate and attentive Practice Director and is a member of the Arizona State Physicians Association. She enjoys giving back to the community through Community Health Clinics. In-Office or TeleHealth Video Visits are available - click REQUEST APPOINTMENT! New Patient visits typically take 1 to 1-1/2 hours. *We require a credit/debit card to reserve your appointment (see attached form). Your card will not be charged until services are rendered.* **We understand circumstances due occur, if it is less than 24-hours before your confirmed appointment time, please telephone the office directly at (520) 477-1815 to cancel. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled FOR ANY REASON within 24 hours of the appointment will incur a no-show/late cancellation fee.**

Will is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 25 years of nursing experience that spans across multiple continents. A graduate of a nursing program in the Philippines, Will's medical journey began in a Heart Center where he cared for high-risk cardiac patients, including those recovering from post-CABG and post-open-heart surgeries. Seeking to broaden his professional horizons, Will moved to the United Kingdom, where he served as a nurse in large hospitals in Northern Ireland and London. His leadership skills were recognized as he took on the role of an assistant manager, showcasing his ability to excel in both clinical and managerial roles. Will later relocated to Arizona in the United States, where he continued to expand his nursing expertise in medical and cardiac intensive care units. Currently, as a Nurse Practitioner, Wilfredo applies his extensive experience and patient-centered approach in a retail clinic setting.

Allan Buenaventura, NP, is a seasoned healthcare professional with an impressive 27-year journey. His career is rooted in Emergency and Intensive Care Nursing, where his clinical acumen, leadership, and patient-centered approach were honed. Allan's experience in these fast-paced, high-pressure environments has equipped him with exceptional problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of critical care. Transitioning to a Nurse Practitioner role, Allan has showcased his versatility in healthcare, applying his extensive nursing experience to provide comprehensive patient care. His roles have ranged from internal medicine to correctional healthcare and retail health, each contributing to his broad skill set. Allan's dedication to excellence in healthcare, coupled with his commitment to patient wellbeing, makes him a remarkable practitioner. His vast experience and adaptable nature continue to drive his passion for delivering top-tier healthcare.

Kathy Nafisi, FNP-C, APRN, MSN is Arizona board certified Nurse practitioner with 20 plus years of experience in health care. Kathy Nafisi, FNP-C not only is caring, compassionate health care professional but she believes in functional medicine and incorporate multi-facetted expertise to provide optimal and preventive care to her patient population. Kathy Nafisi, FNP-C has wealth of knowledge in preventive health care, chronic health conditions, chronic pain management/ addiction, weight loss, ADHD, sexual health, Male Erectile dysfunction, hormone replacement therapy, women’s health, hair loss, nutrition, and supplements.

Specializing in Internal Medicine and Primary Care

M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., F.A.C.P. has been in the private practice of internal medicine and nuclear cardiology in Phoenix, Arizona since 1999. After joining his father in practice in 1999, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser founded the Jasser Center for Comprehensive Care in 2004. The Jasser Center is a community-leading comprehensive internal medicine practice in Phoenix, Arizona, serving patients across Maricopa County and the state of Arizona for over 20 years.

Dr. Jasser and his team of medical providers and healthcare leaders are dedicated to maintaining their uniquely traditional approach to comprehensive adolescent and adult primary care, prevention, and diagnosis and care of complicated chronic medical conditions. He is focused on compassionate, detailed, academic, and family-oriented care of all his patients with a particular emphasis on early cardiovascular disease diagnosis and risk factor prevention.

He has been recognized by his peers and Phoenix Magazine as an Internal Medicine Top Doc numerous times in the past 15 years, including most recently in 2025, and was named the Internist of the Year for the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians in 2018.

Education and Military Service

Dr. Jasser earned his medical degree with Honors in Research on a U.S. Navy scholarship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1992, and then completed his residency in internal medicine at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD in 1996, serving also as Chief of Residents in 1997.

His tours of duty included serving as medical department head aboard the USS El Paso (LKA-117) in Operation Restore Hope (1993-94) and selection for service as staff internist to the Office of the Attending Physician for the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. from 1997-1999. He served 11 years as a medical officer, receiving an honorable discharge as a Lieutenant Commander in 1999. He is a recipient of the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Service Medal.

Teaching and Medical Ethics

Dr. Jasser serves as teaching faculty at Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix and the University of Arizona School of Medicine-Phoenix, where he is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Bioethics and Medical Humanism.

Dr. Jasser is a recognized expert in biomedical ethics, serving as Medical Director for Bioethics at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix since 2021 and chair of their Bioethics Committee since 2002. He has over 25 years of experience in bedside bioethics consultation and education.

With his dedication to medical ethics, Dr. Jasser has long served as medical director for various home health and hospice programs. He has served as medical director for Summit Healthcare Services Home Health and Hospice Programs since 2022.

Leadership and Community Involvement

Dr. Jasser is a past president of the Arizona Medical Association (2006-2007) and has served as one of five physician delegates for Arizona to the American Medical Association House of Delegates (AMA-HOD) since 2008. He founded and chaired the AMA’s Private Practice Physician’s Section (AMA-PPPS) in 2019 and served on their Governing Council from 2020 to 2023. He continues to serve on the board of directors of the Arizona Medical Association (2008-present).

He also serves on the Board of Directors of NotmyKid (2014-present), an Arizona organization dedicated to protecting vulnerable youth from substance abuse, mental health crises, bullying, and online predators. He has served on the Maricopa County Board of Health (2004-2012) and the Board of the Area Agency on Aging and Elderfriends (2007-2012).

Beyond medicine, Dr. Jasser is involved in international religious freedom advocacy and much-needed Muslim reforms. He was appointed by the U.S. Senate to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom from 2012-2016, serving as its Vice-Chair.

Personal Life

Zuhdi and his wife Gada live in Scottsdale, Arizona, with their three children.

Laura Hafez is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She completed her BS in Nutrition from ASU in 2014, MS in Nursing from the UofA in 2017 respectively. Not settling for the typical level of education for practicing nurses, Laura decided to continue her education and pursue the Family Nurse Practitioner role to provide better care. She graduated from NAU with a Post Masters Nurse Practitioner with a specialization in family practice in 2019. Laura is a current member of the AANP, as well as Sigma Theta Tau. Laura believes in the promotion of health and well-being, alongside patient education to achieve the best outcomes. She believes in education and research, and applies this to her patient base, making certain her treatment protocols are truly the latest, most effective, and proven remedies available. Laura is passionate about her belief in applying preventative medicine to her patent population, reducing the incidence of disease, both in the short term and later in life.

Michelle Correa is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She completed her BSN at Arizona State University in 2020. After working inpatient with patients across their lifespans during the pandemic, she felt that she could provide more help beyond the nursing role. She pursued her education and graduated with her DNP specializing in family practice at the U of A in 2023. Michelle believes in the promotion of health and well-being by integrating clinical practice guidelines with patient preferences. She believes in staying up-to-date with the latest education and research and applies this to her patient care. Michelle is passionate about promoting positive health outcomes and preventing disease incidence and subsequent complications in her patients' short- and long-term. I am a "valley girl," born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona. When I am not working, I love running, swimming, traveling, and (most importantly) spending time with my family, friends, and boyfriend.

Jennifer is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She completed her BS in Nursing from ASU in 2012. From there, she decided to start her career as a Registered Nurse in an Intensive Care Unit. She was determined to continue on with her education and pursued her MS in Nursing from GCU, where she graduated from in 2024. Jennifer is a current member of the American Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau. She is passionate about providing holistic, quality care that promotes health and wellbeing. She believes her patients should have the opportunity to be active participants in the management of their healthcare as she feels shared decision making is vital to positive patient outcomes. She also believes it is important to provide treatment options based on the best evidence-based recommendations. It is her goal to establish patient relationships which allow open communication and improved long-term outcomes for all of her patients.

Pam Schillar, a highly experienced Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) relocated to Cave
Creek, AZ from Sandpoint, ID, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to
providing exceptional anesthesia care.

Pam grew up on a wheat farm in Ritzville, WA, a small community in Eastern Washington. She earned
her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Eastern Washington University in May 1981 and began her career
as an RN at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA, initially working on a surgical floor. Pam later
transitioned to the Cardio-thoracic ICU, where she specialized in recovering heart and lung patients.
During this time, she had the opportunity to work closely with CRNAs who specialized in heart and lung
anesthesia, sparking her interest in furthering her education in this field.

In January 1991, Pam joined the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer. After two years in
the Medical ICU, she was accepted into the USAF CRNA program. The Air Force sent Pam to the
University of Texas Health Science Center, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing with a
focus on anesthesia in 1996. Pam has been board certified since October 1996, and over the years, she
has gained extensive experience providing anesthesia services to patients of all ages in a variety of
settings.

For the past 19 years, Pam worked at Bonner General Hospital, a critical access hospital in Sandpoint, ID,
where she provided anesthesia care in a busy surgical services department. Pam enjoyed serving a tight-
knit community, caring for multiple generations of families. However, after years of long winters, Pam
decided to relocate to the Valley, a place she has always loved.

Pam is excited about the opportunities for both personal and professional growth in Arizona. In her free
time, she enjoys golfing, hiking, and taking in the breathtaking desert landscapes and sunsets. She also
enjoys the vibrant culture of the area, from local sports teams and spring training to excellent
restaurants and art and music festivals.

Jeff is a board certified nurse practitioner that strives to perform high quality, cost-effective healthcare within the community. His goal is to restore the patient-provider experience by making the patient feel like they are being heard and meeting their individual needs.

Cynthia Reed, DO embarked on her medical journey with a dedication to empowering patients towards holistic healing. Graduating from Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, she earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, laying the foundation for her unwavering commitment to patient-centered care.

Throughout her career, Dr. Reed has steadfastly served as a primary care provider, embodying her belief that physicians are not just practitioners but also educators and guides in their patients' health journeys. Her focus on functional medicine, metabolic health, and naturopathic approaches reflects her holistic perspective on healing.

As a certified functional medicine provider and naturopathic practitioner, Dr. Reed's expertise lies in hormone balancing, where she applies her knowledge to address the root causes of illness. Her approach to patient care is marked by collaboration and empowerment. She sees herself not only as a healer but also as a coach, offering patients treatment options and guiding them towards optimal health.

Dr. Reed's technique is distinguished by her emphasis on health pillars, advocating for whole foods, restorative sleep, stress management, physical activity, and community support as foundational elements of well-being. Her philosophy centers on the belief that the body possesses innate healing abilities when provided with the appropriate resources.

To stay at the forefront of her field, Dr. Reed engages in continuous professional development, immersing herself in research, collaborating with like-minded practitioners, and seeking out continuing medical education focused on root cause medicine. Her ultimate goal is to educate and empower as many individuals as possible to reclaim their health and vitality, challenging the conventional notion of medication dependency and advocating for the transformative power of whole foods and holistic healing modalities.

Optimal Men’s Center is pleased to have Dr. Reed on staff as an active Provider in the treatment rooms for patients of both Optimal Men’s Center as well as its affiliate, Optimal Health and Wellness Center.

Dr. Reed is accepting new patients!