After twenty years of a distinguished infectious disease practice at the renowned Nalle Clinic, in Charlotte, NC, in 2000, Dr. Joseph Jemsek founded an eponymous infectious disease practice for HIV/AIDS, a specialty he had pursued since 1983. Yet, soon after opening its doors, the Jemsek practice was driven towards specializing in the treatment of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis complex) and associated conditions to care for a wave of patients who came looking for help with chronic, extremely debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Jemsek’s clinic (first in NC, then in SC, and lastly in Washington, DC) soon became a world-renowned destination practice and a bastion of hope for disenfranchised patients around the world, welcoming patients from 50 US states and more than 40 countries.

For twenty-five years, Dr. Jemsek pushed the boundaries of medicine in search of answers for his patients suffering from Lyme disease. Along the way, he challenged his own knowledge of medicine, clashed with colleagues and academics, battled policymakers, and faced up to a stream of slander and legal battles. Despite it all, Dr. Jemsek continued his fight for the privilege of serving his patients — who, in turn, rewarded him with their gratitude, every day.