Colonel · Physician · Entrepreneur
Licensed physician & health care administrator with 30+ years delivering state-of-the-art medical care across international locations — from Vienna to Baghdad, Papua New Guinea to Cyprus.
Highly accomplished Licensed Physician and Health Care Administrator offering 30+ years of dedicated service delivering state-of-the-art medical care at various international locations. Areas of clinical expertise include anesthesiology, critical care, family medicine, and transfusion medicine.
Recognized as a pioneer in transforming health care through development of new business models for medical practices, launch of new health care programs and service lines, and serving as a consultant on capital improvement projects for health care organizations.
Forward-thinking leader with a successful career as a retired Colonel in the Austrian Army, serving in various key leadership roles directing clinical operations within dynamic health care settings worldwide. Multilingual, with extensive experience working with individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Experienced in all clinical fields — intensive care medicine, EMS and pain medicine. Available for short- and long-term engagements worldwide.
Vast experience as a doctor, army officer, and mediator. A unique mix of capabilities that bridges clinical excellence, leadership, and strategic insight.
Quality is achieving what you want with day-to-day unchanged precision. Implementation of QM principles across clinical and operational environments.
Managing Director & Owner
Founded boutique healthcare company specializing in niche markets — right-sized for clients who need expert solutions without big-company overhead. Team of international experts and operators available 24/7.
Ship Doctor — Hamburg, Germany
Anesthesiologist and Emergency Care Physician aboard cruise ships. Full spectrum emergency and elective care for passengers and crew including ACLS, ATLS, PALS, and PHTLS procedures.
Anesthesiologist — Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Specialist for Anesthesia, Emergency Care, and Transfusion Medicine catering to the Australian Federal Police. Patient care, paramedic supervision, and emergency repatriation.
Senior Medical Officer — Erbil, Iraq
Senior Medical Officer for oil industry operations in Iraq. Patient care, on-site paramedic supervision, and emergency repatriation management.
Chief Medical Officer — Kaduna, Nigeria
Organized and managed medical EMS and security services for the World Cup tournament across multiple host cities.
Owner — Vienna, Austria
Opened and managed personal physician service and flat-rate innovative medical practice; reported across European media as a pioneer concept in healthcare delivery.
Staff Anesthesiologist
Research programs, teaching in the operating theater, and administrative duties. Published papers in peer-reviewed journals. Led AKH Project "Saving 50% Blood" at Vienna General Hospital.
A well-trained, skilled, and circumspect anesthesiologist and critical care physician — and a team player who, always with the risk/benefit ratio of the patient in mind, is able to solve medical challenges quickly and reliably, even in stressful and critical situations.
I was strongly impressed by Dr. Zakel's professionalism, his very good technical knowledge, his ability to assess difficult situations immediately and correctly, and to find the correct solutions quickly — working with extraordinary dedication and personal initiative.
Colonel Dr. Zakel gained a broad and international reputation as an approved and greatly demanded professional surgeon. He can communicate and react well to other people and different cultural backgrounds in a friendly and open manner.
Being in a developing country, there were inevitable problems on a near-daily basis, yet Dieter was able to deal with all of them effortlessly. He had the knack of motivating his team to undertake all the challenging tasks that were put to them.
The United States Department of State extends its warmest regards for the medical assistance and care you have so generously extended to the U.S. Police Officers serving in the United Nations Police Training Mission in Kosovo. You are a credit to the medical profession and to Austria.
Dr. Zakel showed himself to have excellent people skills, an excellent analytical mind, and superb communication skills in addition to a broad scientific and medical knowledge. I firmly believe these skills make him perfectly suited for the job in question.
Available for clinical engagements, consulting mandates, and quality management projects worldwide. Reach out to discuss how I can contribute to your organization.