About Zeus
Few people are trained as both a physician and a psychedelic therapist. Combining these paradigms allows me to provide experiential treatment — guiding people through experiences where they learn a new way of being. We intentionally rewire the subconscious nervous system from maladaptive response patterns that cause suffering, to adaptive responses that better serve them.
What got me here? My medical career began specializing in trauma surgery and critical care, where my patients became emotionally stuck after surviving difficult life experiences. Neither conventional medicine nor traditional psychotherapy could get them unstuck.
Seeking a path for deeper healing I began studying the transformative effects of ketamine and psychedelics. I obtained a Master’s degree in Social Work and extensive training in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Now I combine medicine and therapy to guide people through new experiences—the secret to profound, lasting change.
Medical Board of California License A71020
Harvard University
Bachelor of Science, Biology
Cal State University, Sacramento
Master of Social Work
Perelman (U Penn) School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Psychedelic Psychotherapy Training
• Polaris Insight Center
– Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
• PRATI
– Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
• MAPS
– MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy
– European Clinical Trials Rater
• Temenos
– Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
• Relational Somatic Healing
– Beyond Attachment
– Embodied Touch
– Deep Listening / Gentle Touch
• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Therapy
– Immersion
– Essential Skills
– Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy
– Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Medical Training
• LA County+USC – surgery residency
• UK National Health Service – registrar
• LA County+USC – critical care fellowship
• Shriners – pediatric surgery fellowship
• UC Davis – adult burn surgery fellowship
Community Service
• CAL FIRE – wildfire response
• CAL MAT – medical disaster response
• UC Davis IRB – biomedical trial review
• Dr. Zeus – income-based treatment
MEDICAL RESEARCH
1) Ramirez JI, Thomas D, Neal DJ, Maguina P. A new injury prevention target: summer hair braids. J Burn Care Res, 39(6): 911-4, November/December 2018.
2) Ramirez JI, Sen S, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG. Timing of laparotomy and closure in burn patients with abdominal compartment syndrome: effects on survival. J Am Coll Surg, 226(6):1175-80, June 2018.
3) Ramirez JI, Ridgway CA-C, Lee JG, Potenza BM, Sen S, Palmieri TP, Greenhalgh DG, Maguina P. The unrecognized epidemic of electronic cigarette burns. J Burn Care Res, 38(4):220-4, July 2017.
4) Gal S, Ramirez JI, Maguina P. Autologous fat grafting does not improve burn scar appearance: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study. Burns, 43(3):486-9, May 2017.
5) Ramirez JI, Maguina P. Invasive conidiobolomycosis can be successfully treated in burn survivors. J Burn Care Res, 38(1):e460-3, January 2017.
6) Ramirez JI, Velmahos GV, Best C, Chan L, Demetriades D. Male sexual function after bilateral internal iliac artery embolization for pelvic fracture. J Trauma, 56(4):734-41, 2004.
7) Ramirez JI, Petrone P, Asensio JA. Thyroid storm induced by strangulation. South Med J 97(6):608-10, 2004.
8) Ramirez JI, Vassiliu P, Beart RW. Sequential compression devices as prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in high-risk colorectal surgery patients: reconsidering American Society of Colorectal Surgeons parameters. Am Surg 69(11):941-5, 2003.
9) Asensio JA, Rojo E, Petrone P, Karsidag T, Pardo M, Ramirez JI, Roldan G. Síndrome de exsanguinación: factores predictivos e indicativos para la cirugía de control de daños. Cirujano General 25(3):207-218, 2003.
10) Ramirez JI, Gossett DR, Ginsburg KR, Taylor SL, Slap GB. Preventing high-risk behavior: the perspective of inner-city adolescents. J Adolesc Health 26(4): 258-67, 2000.
BOOK CHAPTERS AND REVIEWS
1) Ramirez JI, Velmahos G. Management of cervical aerodigestive injuries. Minerva Chir, 59(6):563-72, 2004.
2) Ramirez JI, Belzberg HB. Respiratory insufficiency and mechanical ventilation. In: Naude GP, Bongard FS, and Demetriades D (eds): Trauma Secrets, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2002.
3) Velmahos GV, Ramirez JI. Crush injuries. In: Naude GP, Bongard FS, and Demetriades D (eds): Trauma Secrets, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2002.
NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
1) Ramirez JI, Sen S, Greenhalgh DG. Prompt laparotomy and early closure dramatically improve survival in burn patients with abdominal compartment syndrome. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Am. Burn Assoc., March 21-24, 2017.
2) Ramirez JI, Ridgway CA-C, Potenza BM, Sen S, Palmieri TP, Greenhalgh DG, Maguina P. The unrecognized epidemic of electronic cigarette burns: A multi-center study. Presentation at Annual Meeting of the Am. Burn Assoc., March 21-24, 2017.
3) Park SJ, Ramirez JI, Maguina P. Does laser therapy work the same way for all burn patients? A preliminary study. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, March 21-24, 2017.
4) Ramirez JI, Maguina P. Autologous Fat Grafting for Burn Scars: A Prospective, Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Study. Oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, May 3-6, 2016.
5). Ramirez JI, Sen S, Tran N, Chan B, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG, Cho K. Sodium Variability Increases Mortality in Severe Burn Injury. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, May 3-6, 2016.