Tick Boot Camp Podcast
Dr. James Bruzzese was featured on the Tick Boot Camp Podcast:
- Coming soon…
Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Care Informed by Medicine and Family Experience
Dr. James Bruzzese, MD, is the founder of Bruzzese Medical, a New York-based medical practice providing virtual care for people affected by Lyme disease, tick-borne infections, and complex chronic symptoms.
His understanding of Lyme disease began outside the classroom. His younger sister, Julia Bruzzese, became severely ill as a child and eventually lost the ability to walk. James witnessed how difficult it could be for a profoundly sick patient to obtain recognition, coordinated care, and meaningful support.
That family experience now informs a practice built around careful listening, individualized evaluation, clear communication, and an understanding of how deeply chronic illness can affect both patients and their families.
Medical Education and Training
Dr. Bruzzese earned his Bachelor of Science and medical degree through the accelerated seven-year program at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education and CUNY School of Medicine.
His postgraduate training includes internal medicine and anesthesiology at NYU Langone Health, with exposure to patients across Bellevue Hospital, the Veterans Affairs healthcare system, and NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn.
He is also a pain medicine fellow and a member of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. During medical school and residency, he received Lyme-focused training from clinicians including:
- Richard Horowitz, MD
- Somer DelSignore, MD
- John Fallon, NP
This combination of medical, anesthesiology, pain medicine, and Lyme disease experience contributes to his whole-body approach to complex illness.
Conditions and Health Factors Evaluated
Bruzzese Medical specializes in Lyme and tick-borne disease care, including complex or persistent presentations affecting multiple body systems.
Evaluation may include consideration of:
- Lyme disease
- Babesia
- Bartonella
- Ehrlichia
- Anaplasmosis
- Neurological and cognitive symptoms
- Migrating muscle or joint pain
- Fatigue and sleep disruption
- Dysautonomia
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Chronic or neuropathic pain
- Immune and inflammatory dysfunction
- Hormonal and nutritional factors
- Mold exposure
- Heavy-metal toxicity
Because symptoms and treatment responses vary significantly, testing is interpreted alongside the patient’s history, exposure risk, physical findings, previous treatment, and overall clinical presentation.
Dr. Bruzzese’s Treatment Philosophy
Dr. Bruzzese does not believe in applying one standard protocol to every Lyme patient. His approach is comprehensive, evidence-informed, and tailored to the individual.
Depending on the patient, a treatment plan may include:
- Targeted antimicrobial treatment when appropriate
- Evaluation and treatment of co-infections
- Conventional medical therapies
- Herbal or integrative therapies
- Immune and inflammatory support
- Nutritional and hormonal evaluation
- Neurological and pain-focused support
- Review of medication and supplement interactions
- Ongoing treatment adjustments based on patient response
Care decisions are made collaboratively, with attention to potential benefits, risks, tolerability, and the patient’s goals.
A Team-Based Model of Care
Bruzzese Medical operates through a collaborative care team consisting of Dr. Bruzzese and trained nurse practitioners.
An initial consultation may be led by a nurse practitioner, but Dr. Bruzzese remains directly involved in the patient’s care. According to the practice, he oversees diagnostic and treatment decisions and directs the protocols used by the clinical team.
This structure is intended to improve availability and affordability while keeping Dr. Bruzzese’s clinical guidance at the center of care.
Communication and Patient Support
Patients receive access to an Athena electronic medical record portal through which they can review information and securely communicate with their providers.
This communication model is especially valuable for people managing:
- Complicated medication schedules
- Treatment reactions
- Changes in neurological or pain symptoms
- Multiple prescriptions and supplements
- Questions arising between appointments
The practice aims to respond to messages within one to two business days.
Virtual Appointments
Bruzzese Medical currently provides virtual appointments when clinically appropriate and permitted under applicable state regulations.
The practice is private-pay and does not accept insurance for appointments. Insurance may still be used separately for eligible prescriptions, laboratory testing, or imaging, depending on the patient’s individual coverage.
Before an initial visit, patients are encouraged to assemble:
- Previous laboratory results
- Imaging reports
- Medical and treatment records
- A current medication and supplement list
- A timeline showing when symptoms began and how they changed
Work With Dr. James Bruzzese
To learn more or request an appointment, visit:
