Joseph Scott Zickafoose, MD

Dr. Zickafoose completed his undergraduate degree and medical school at Case Western Reserve University followed by a residency and chief residency in pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, all in Cleveland, OH. After practicing as a primary care and hospitalist pediatrician for a year, he completed a fellowship and master's degree in pediatric health services research at the University of Michigan. He continued to practice pediatric primary care with the University of Michigan for several years before moving to Nashville, TN.

For a decade with the Vanderbilt Children's Primary Care practice, Dr. Zickafoose provided primary care for children in families who primarily spoke Spanish and were enrolled in public health insurance programs. In late 2025, he returned with his wife and two children to Ann Arbor for work opportunities and to be closer to family.

University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

Dr. Zickafoose is a practicing primary care pediatrician trained in health services research whose research focuses on health care services for children, Medicaid policy, and the intersections between them. The major focuses of his work are (1) improving access to and the quality of health care for children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), (2) understanding the influence of health insurance policies and health care systems on care received by children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN), and (3) evaluating health care delivery and policy innovations.