VCS Blog
Dr. Nayef Abouzaki on Access Now and Specialty Care in Richmond – Featured in The Patient’s Navigator
This article, originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of the Richmond Academy of Medicine’s The Patient’s Navigator, features Dr. Nayef Abouzaki, board-certified interventional cardiologist at Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists. Dr. Abouzaki shares why he supports Access Now’s mission to expand specialty care for Richmond’s most vulnerable patients and how his work on the board is helping to strengthen this vital safety-net resource.
Dr. Nayef Abouzaki is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists (VCS). He has specialty training in complex coronary interventions and peripheral vascular intervention, with a particular interest in limb salvage therapies and coronary chronic total occlusion revascularization. He joined Access Now’s Board of Directors in 2025.
In his spare time, Dr. Abouzaki enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and completing DIY projects around his home.
Dr. Abouzaki was kind enough to lend us his perspective on Access Now’s critical mission of providing no-cost specialty care to our community’s most vulnerable patients.
What convinced you to become a part of Access Now’s mission?
The “THANK YOU” cards and the accompanying “sparkle” in the patients’ eyes.
As a partner at the largest cardiology practice in central Virginia, I have gained an appreciation of how much ACCESS NOW patients appreciate the care we provide at Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists and other specialties in the metro Richmond area. Before starting at VCS, I didn’t know that ACCESS NOW existed. Seeing these patients, who have limited resources, outside of an emergent hospital setting gain access to excellent medical care with hope to prevent cardiovascular events from happening was very gratifying. They often presented me with a “THANK YOU” card at the end of those visits to show their appreciation. This brightened our day, and I fast realized that the reason for this was ACCESS NOW.
How has serving on the board changed how you view safety-net specialty care?
Serving on the Board, empowers me to fight to expand safety-net specialty care and advocate to expand our resources to provide them. I have gained a greater appreciation of the demand for specialty care and how in the state of Virginia we are more vulnerable for loss of coverage in the coming months.
With the prospect of serious cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net programs, what are your thoughts about Access Now’s role in the near future?
Access Now’s role will only expand with hopes to fill the gaps in coverage until as a medical community or on the Commonwealth level we are able to find programs/solutions to the coverage gap.
Is there anything you would like Access Now’s past, present and future patients to know?
Access Now is here. It is strong. It’ll only get stronger. It is RICHMOND PROUD!
What would you tell a physician or practice considering volunteering with Access Now?
Better late than never! Join us and strengthen the mission of Access Now to provide specialty care to all of Richmond’s patients in need with limited resources.
Published August 4, 2025