Welcome To
Saturn
A Clinic by Dr. Z
Our Mission
To provide a clinical sanctuary for those who demand excellence. Through evidence-based medicine and an unwavering commitment to his patients, Dr. Z stands by their side to navigate medical complexity, protect their health, and optimize their biological potential.
Salman Ziaei, MD, MPH
Pronounced Sal-mahn Zee-yah-yee
01 / Personal background
Early life
Known to his patients simply as Dr. Z, Salman was born in Mashhad, Iran. Growing up, two things shaped much of his early life: academics and tennis (perhaps more so tennis at first!). A nationally recognized junior tennis player, he earned numerous accolades throughout his youth, culminating in a national championship in 2004 and a No. 1 ranking in Iran in the 18-and-under division.
That same drive carried into his education. Dr. Z was accepted to medical school in his hometown of Mashhad, where he earned his medical degree. After graduation, he decided to pursue a longtime dream of coming to the United States and arrived in California in 2013.
02 / Education & training
Academic Career
Dr. Z continued his education at the University of Southern California (USC), earning a Master of Public Health degree before moving to Baltimore to complete his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland.
During residency, Dr. Z distinguished himself both academically and through his commitment to patient care. He was part of the winning team at the American College of Physicians (ACP) Maryland Chapter Doctor's Dilemma® competition in both 2017 and 2019, a highly competitive medical knowledge competition for Internal Medicine residents. His other honors included the Outstanding Performance in the Area of Humanism and Professionalism Award, the William C. Anthony Award for Outstanding Performance on the Internal Medicine Exam, and the Profile in Excellence Award presented at the Mulholland Mohler Residents Meeting.
03 / Professional experience
Time to Practice
Primary care in Ridgecrest
After residency in 2019, Dr. Z returned to California to serve an underserved community in Ridgecrest. He built a thriving primary care practice around meaningful, long-term patient relationships and served as Chair of the Department of Outpatient Medicine.
Hospital medicine at Hoag
After meeting his now-wife, Shadi, they married in 2022 and made Orange County home. He left his Ridgecrest practice and joined Pacific Hospitalist Associates, practicing at Hoag Hospital in Irvine.
Caring for complex, acutely ill patients reinforced a lesson from primary care: some of the most important medicine happens long before a patient reaches the hospital.
04 / Founding Saturn Health
Saturn Health is Born
In 2026, Dr. Z founded Saturn Health to create a clinical sanctuary for those who demand excellence in their care.
Saturn represents time, longevity, and the pursuit of something greater—principles that mirror our approach to medicine: protecting the health you have today while optimizing the years ahead.
Bringing together his experience in primary care and hospital medicine, Saturn Health puts the physician-patient relationship at its center, with time, accessibility, and careful decision-making at the heart of every visit.
Saturn Health
Begin with a conversation.
Dr. Z welcomes a limited number of patients to preserve the time, access, and attention that define Saturn Health.
Join the waitlist and schedule a complimentary initial consultation to meet Dr. Z, discuss your health goals and expectations, and explore whether Saturn Health is right for you.
Saturn Health