Physician-Led Direct Primary Care in Atlanta
Reimagining Healthcare, One Patient at a Time
There’s a new model of care in town—radically compassionate, uniquely personal, and surprisingly…affordable. At Cassia Optimal Health, we believe healthcare should feel like a partnership, not a transaction. That’s why we combine advanced medical care with the support and guidance you need to truly thrive—through personalized nutrition, lifestyle strategies, and a compassionate, dedicated team by your side.
Let’s Start Your Wellness Journey Together
Meet Dr. Zazi Nylander: A Journey to Transform Care
Dr. Zazi Nylander is a double board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Obesity Medicine, founder of Cassia Optimal Health, and physician speaker focused on metabolic health, women’s health, prevention, and personalized primary care.
Born and raised in Ghana, Dr. Nylander’s understanding of medicine was shaped early by witnessing the impact of compassionate, relationship-centered care within her community. That foundation continues to influence her philosophy today — that healthcare should feel deeply personal, thoughtful, and rooted in trust.
She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College, where she received the prestigious C. Pauline Burt Award in Chemistry, before beginning her early career at Merck. Her experiences there offered valuable insight into modern medicine and pharmaceuticals while reinforcing the importance of prevention, lifestyle, and individualized care.
She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Obesity Society and is a physician speaker focused on advancing evidence-based obesity and metabolic health care.
Dr. Nylander earned her medical degree through Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Emory University, where she was recognized as Resident of the Year for her commitment to patient care and leadership.
Throughout her training and early clinical career, Dr. Nylander became increasingly aware of the limitations of traditional healthcare models — rushed visits, fragmented care, and systems that often left patients feeling unheard. She envisioned a different kind of practice: one that combines evidence-based medicine with time, partnership, prevention, and a deeper understanding of the individual patient.
That vision became Cassia Optimal Health.
At Cassia, Dr. Nylander focuses on helping patients optimize metabolic health, navigate weight and hormone-related concerns, improve longevity, and feel their best through a highly personalized, physician-led approach to care. Her work blends modern medical science with thoughtful lifestyle strategies and relationship-based medicine.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Nylander is actively involved in physician education and speaking within the fields of obesity medicine and metabolic health. She has been recognized as an Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor in both 2025 and 2026, named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, selected as an AAFP Leading Physician Well-being Scholar, and is a physician member of the Northside Hospital Network.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Nylander values intentional living, wellness, culture, and creating spaces that feel grounding, restorative, and deeply human — principles that continue to shape the experience and philosophy behind Cassia.
At Cassia, the goal is not simply to treat disease — it is to help patients feel well, supported, empowered, and truly known.
The Cassia Story
The Meaning Behind Cassia
Cassia Optimal Health was created to feel intentional — not only in the care provided, but in the environment itself.
The name Cassia was inspired by the cassia tree, a resilient plant deeply connected to West Africa and known for its healing properties. Growing up in Ghana, Dr. Nylander was drawn to the way these trees continued to thrive even through the harsh Harmattan season — a time marked by dry winds, dust, and environmental stress. To her, the cassia tree became a symbol of resilience, restoration, and the body’s ability to heal and flourish under the right conditions.
When building the practice, Dr. Nylander wanted to create something that felt grounding — a space that reflected both where she came from and the philosophy behind how she believes healthcare should feel: thoughtful, restorative, deeply personal, and rooted in human connection.
Throughout the clinic, that philosophy is carried into the patient experience itself. The consultation space, known as the Harmony Room, represents the place where everything comes together — medical history, lifestyle, stress, nutrition, hormones, goals, and the deeper context behind a patient’s health. Rather than treating isolated symptoms, the goal is to understand the full picture and create a plan that feels realistic, sustainable, and individualized.
The clinical rooms themselves are named Cassia Sieberiana and Cassia Alata, honoring two species of the cassia plant known for their healing significance and strength.
At Cassia, wellness is not approached as perfection. It is approached as resilience, restoration, and helping patients thrive through every season of life.
Meet Kelley Lynch: Your Clinical Practice Coordinator
Our Philosophy
Personalized Care
Prevention and Optimization
Lasting Relationships
Continuous Learning
A Vision for Change
The Birth of
Cassia Optimal Health
Join Us in Redefining Healthcare
At Cassia Optimal Health, we don’t just treat symptoms—we nurture wellness. Experience care that’s compassionate, collaborative, and designed with your unique needs at heart. Together, we’ll build a healthier, happier future—one patient and one team member at a time.