The Doctor Is In

Dr. Deborah Houk is a woman in perpetual motion. When she’s not making rounds at NCH as a hospitalist or spending time with her family—including her husband, Ryan, and four energetic children all under age 6—you can find her engaged in philanthropic work, looking glam at various galas, or volunteering at her children’s school.

Leaps and Bounds

A daughter to Nigerian immigrants who moved stateside seeking educational opportunities for themselves and their children, Deborah was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but spent most of her formative years in Carrollton, Texas (just north of Dallas). With five siblings, Deborah describes her upbringing as strict yet fun. “It was a disciplined environment, and that made my siblings and me close; we always looked out for one another.”

A gifted athlete, Deborah participated in track and field, volleyball, and basketball in high school. However, after suffering an ACL injury, she decided to focus on track and field. Her grades were strong, and she landed at Stanford University for college, where she continued her athletic career. In fact, her name still appears in Stanford’s history books, as she holds top-10 records in the 100-meter hurdles (sixth) and the triple jump (tenth). 

Deborah was much more than a fast, explosive athlete in college though; she excelled academically, too. While at Stanford, she enrolled in a co-term program that allowed students to graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years. A quick study, Deborah completed the program in an impressive four years, earning an undergraduate degree in biological sciences and a graduate degree in biology—solid footing for her forthcoming medical career.

If you ask her, she’ll tell you she was destined from birth to be a physician. “When I was born, a nurse at the hospital told my parents I was going to be a doctor one day,” she recounts. “I always believed that and never questioned it, except for a time or two when I was going through the thick of it in medical school.”

Deborah earned her medical degree from The George Washington University and completed her residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, where she met Ryan, originally from Louisville, Kentucky. Ryan was completing his own residency in internal medicine at the Ivy League–affiliated institution. However, it was fashion—even more so than medicine—that brought them together. “When we first met, we were both wearing low-top [Converse] Chuck Taylors in navy blue,” says Deborah. 

The two learned they also shared a California connection. Ryan had attended the University of California, Berkeley (Stanford’s rival), where he graduated with a degree in social work. He served on the board of directors for the Berkeley Food & Housing Project, caring for the area’s unhoused in this role and in other instrumental positions.

“I enjoyed helping people through the social work I was involved in; however, I noticed many of these individuals suffered from serious health issues,” says Ryan, who holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University and a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. “Observing certain comorbidities in this disadvantaged population motivated me to pursue a career in medicine. Later, I chose to specialize in cardiology.”

Deborah and Ryan dated for three years before marrying in 2016. After completing his residency, Ryan landed a cardiology fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. They tied the knot in The Big Easy. “We had all the New Orleans flair, including a second line celebration,” reports Deborah. “We also had a Nigerian ceremony on a separate day.”

Not long after, in 2017, an opportunity to move to Naples presented itself; Ryan was offered a position at Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists, where he focuses on cardiac imaging and helped to incorporate the latest PET (positron emission tomography) technology, which provides physicians a quick, accurate, and noninvasive way to diagnose many heart-related conditions. 

Before moving here, the pair visited Naples; Deborah explains that their first encounter incited a love affair with the area. “The weather, the beach, the lifestyle—it’s beautiful,” she says. 

In Practice

While they’re now settled in their Hacienda Lakes neighborhood, Deborah and Ryan are as busy as ever. Their four children (Zoe, 5; twins Christian and Gabriel, 3; and Xavier, 1) keep them on the move. Zoe has expressed an interest in art, the twins love anything and everything to do with trucks, and Xavier, according to Deborah, is along for the ride right now. “He’s really smart,” Deborah adds. “He wants to be involved in what everyone else is doing.” 

“I had to learn how to manage with one child, relearn with three, and then again with four,” she continues. “I’m blessed because I have a husband who is willing and able to provide for our entire family. I’m also blessed because my employer is flexible, understands my worth, and allows me to work when I can. Right now, I work two to three days a week, but I want to increase to four eventually.”

Providing compassionate care with a whole-patient approach is important to Deborah. “The thing I was criticized for in medical school was spending too much time [with patients],” she says. “I would sit down, talk to them, ask about their home life; that affects their health. Patients seem to appreciate that I take the time to get to know them, and I think that helps me shine as a physician here in Naples.” 

Though Deborah immensely enjoys and appreciates her current job as a hospitalist, she aspires to start her own skin care and cosmetics line. Another goal is opening a concierge practice. For her, this paradigm aligns with the personalized care she provides. “With all my ‘faults’ of dedicating time to patients, I think a concierge practice would suit me well,” she tells. 

Making the World a Better Place

When you’re a mother of four and have a taxing career—not to mention a spouse with a demanding career—the term “spare time” likely becomes relative. As hectic as her days can be, however, Deborah still finds ways to make impactful contributions to the Naples community. Currently, she is participating in Leadership Collier’s 2024 class, where she’s learning more about Collier County’s local government operations, educational institutions, economic development endeavors, and arts-focused organizations, as well as forging bonds with other Neapolitan leaders. “Leadership Collier is a group of changemakers,” explains Deborah. “The connections I’ve made have been wonderful.”

She also dedicates time to Seacrest Country Day School, where she serves on the Institutional Advancement Committee and helped coordinate the 2023 gala. She has immersed herself in altruistic work across Southwest Florida, too. In addition to being an American Heart Association Circle of Red member, Deborah serves on the board of directors at Youth Haven. Here, she’s also an Ambassador Circle member and part of the 2024 Starry Nights Gala Committee.  

“Deborah has been a supporter of Youth Haven for several years; she exudes elegance, light, and love,” says Linda Goldfield, CEO for the nonprofit organization. “Her passion and commitment to making the world a better place is infectious; she has been instrumental in engaging new support by sharing our work and mission in the community.”

For Deborah, giving back to the community is a source of personal contentment.

“I love to do for others,” relates Deborah. “I enjoy caring for myself, but that includes being involved in these charities because it’s fulfilling and truly brings me happiness.”

Dr. Deborah’s Pointers for Positive Health

Naples Illustrated asked Dr. Deborah Houk, a board-certified internal medicine physician, for a few general health pointers. Here are a few tips she shared. 

1. Make the hard choices. This includes eating nutrient-rich foods and exercising regularly. Deborah relays that while it’s generally easier to live an unhealthy lifestyle, it takes determination, commitment, and consistency to live a healthy one.

2. Moderation is key. Avoid extremes, the doctor advises. For example, don’t overindulge on sugar but don’t completely eliminate it either. Sure, exercise is important, but it’s critical not to overexercise or overexert. She recommends finding the “happy mediums” that work for you.

3. Surround yourself with like-minded people. If you want to be healthy, you should keep company with those who take their health and wellness seriously, Deborah notes. Want to be more active? She prescribes spending time with individuals who exercise often. Want to eat healthier? Deborah says to share meals with people who are mindful of what they consume.

4. Be aware of your body. According to the doctor, changes to your body may indicate something is wrong or could be an initial sign of illness. “If you’re gaining weight, tell your doctor,” she says. “If you’re losing weight, tell your doctor. If you’re having trouble sleeping or if you’re going to the restroom more or less often, tell your doctor. Your body will often signal something is awry.”

5. There’s no need to suffer. Enduring pain or discomfort is not necessary, says Deborah. “My role as a physician is to make people feel better and live longer,” she explains. “There’s only so much I can do to help people live longer, so really, I’m in the business of helping people feel better.”

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