In 2000, Dr. Joseph Jemsek founded an eponymous infectious disease practice focused on HIV/AIDS, a specialty he had pursued since 1983. Yet soon after opening its doors, Jemsek’s practice was driven toward specializing in the treatment of Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis complex) and associated conditions to care for a wave of patients who came seeking help with chronic, debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Jemsek’s clinic (first in North Carolina, then in South Carolina, 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, grappled with 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.

In the summer of 2025, after many years of service to thousands of patients, Dr. Jemsek transitioned from practicing medicine to focusing on patient advocacy and advancing the public’s understanding of tick-borne diseases.