During a rugby match, Dr. Khatib is quick on his feet. He enjoys the culture and community within the sport. “It’s very welcoming and opponents always host each other after matches for food and celebration together,” he said.
New physician Zaid Khatib, MD isn’t afraid to dig in and help his team on the field or at Akron Children’s Hospital. As a former rugby player, Dr. Khatib has always been quick on his feet to advance the ball or disrupt a defender. Today, as a sports medicine physician at Akron Children’s, he’s able to effectively diagnose sports or activity-related injuries to get patients back on track. Additionally, he’s a pediatric hospitalist at the inpatient pediatric unit at Aultman Hospital where he’s able to step in and support children and teens with illnesses during their inpatient hospital stay.
Q: What celebrity do you look the most like?
A: I’ve been told I look like actor Jason Statham, only far more handsome.
Q: When you curl up on the couch to watch a movie, are you most likely to have a bowl of popcorn, chocolate or box of tissues?
A: To be honest, I’m a chips and salsa guy. But, if I had to pick from those choices, I’d go with popcorn.
Q: What song do you know all the words by heart?
A: Shake it Off by Taylor Swift, which is also my go-to karaoke tune. But, now, with a 2-year-old and newborn at home, I’ve caught myself singing along to Raffi (a children’s music singer and song writer).
Dr. Khatib with wife Patty, son Vincent and daughter Elena.
Q: Who makes up your family, including pets?
A: My wife, Patty, our son, Vincent (2), newborn daughter, Elena, our dog Vigo and rabbit, Jack Bristow. As a family, we love to go hiking together. We’re very fortunate to have tons of gorgeous trails nearby. Vincent loves riding in the carrier backpack (when he’s not darting up ahead), and we’re looking forward to bringing Elena out on the trails with us in a few months.
Q: What piece of advice did someone give you when you were young that still resonates with you today?
A: It was actually from a web comic, but it has stuck with me, “You don’t use science to show that you’re right; you use science to become right.”
Q: Do you dunk your Oreos in milk, lick off the icing, eat them as they are or avoid them altogether?
A: Oreos are meant to be eaten by the sleeve. Dunking or separating the cookie only slows me down.
The family enjoys doing the fall hiking spree through the Summit Metro Parks every year.
Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This show had great writing, dialogue and put writer Joss Whedon on the map. The show was way ahead of its time with some of the themes it explored.
Q: What’s your most treasured possession?
A: It has to be my bicycles. I do a decent amount of road cycling and mountain biking so I treat my equipment well. I do the occasional 60-mile training ride with my brother-in-law, who competes in triathlons, but typically I shoot for 30 miles or so. Riding gives me a new perspective on some of the same areas I’ve driven through. When you slow things down, to bicycle speed, there’s a lot to appreciate. We’re pretty fortunate to have a national park right in our back yard. I don’t think I realized how much the Cuyahoga Valley National Park had to offer until I got on a bike.
Q: What’s your favorite food? Who makes it best?
A: The Steak A.M. Crunchwrap from Taco Bell.
Q: Do you have any hidden talents or something people may not know about you?
A: I played high-level rugby for many years. I played at Kent State University, for a local men’s club through medical school and residency, and then on a regional premiere team for the Midwest Sevens Championships. Family commitments and injuries finally caught up with me. Although, I haven’t ruled out a glorious comeback.
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