From the Mediterranean to the Shores of LKN
Growing up in Lattakia, Syria, a beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast, I graduated from medical school there before moving to the United States in 2002. I completed my residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. I met my wife, Haya, in Charlotte while she was starting her PhD in Management Information Systems at UNCC. We’ve been married for 21 years and have two amazing boys—Alexander, who is 16, and Julian, who is 10. They both attend Davidson Day School.
Prescriptions for Kindness
Medicine captivated me in high school. I loved biology and behavioral sciences and knew early on I wanted to help people and stay close to my community. I founded OptiMed Hospitalists in 2010 to provide inpatient care to Lake Norman residents. Our team—physicians, PAs, and nurse practitioners—works in hospitals and rehab centers across the region. The key challenge in healthcare is staying focused. We realized our impact lies in local partnerships and holistic care. Recently, we integrated psychiatry consults into inpatient services and in July 2025, we’ll begin training new residents at Iredell Memorial Hospital. It’s our way of paying it forward.
Like Father Like Son
My father deeply influenced me. He was the first scientist I ever knew and modeled integrity, hard work, and the importance of relationships. He also taught me that every obstacle is an opportunity—either to learn or to help someone else. I try to lead with trust, integrity, positivity, and clear communication.
With a Heart for Any Fate
One of my favorite quotes is from Longfellow: “Let us, then, be up and doing, with a heart for any fate; still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait.” It reminds me to always be grateful and to take pride in the work we do and find joy in serving others. I believe in loving yourself first so you can love others well. We’re committed to whole-person care, integrating mental and physical health—and always seeking opportunities to serve better.
Family, Fun, and Travel
I enjoy reading biographies and leadership books for some relaxing me-time. But mostly I love spending time with Haya and our boys. We travel often … the Swiss Alps was one of our favorites, and we are especially excited about our upcoming trip to Japan.
Mahdi Ajjan MD, MBA, is the CEO of OptiMed Hospitalists, PLLC. Started in 2010 as a two-physician hospital group, today they are a team of 50 medical professionals providing exceptional inpatient and outpatient medical services at ten local medical facilities in North Carolina. Reach Dr. Ajjan and his entire team at www.optimeddoctors.com.
