Physician

NCH

When Deborah Houk was born, a nurse predicted to her mother that the baby would one day become a doctor. While Dr. Houk says it was her family’s emphasis on education that ultimately led her into medicine, the idea of improving people’s lives, helping them feel better and potentially extending their lives was even more compelling.

“Every day, I am motivated by the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives and to help them achieve better health and well-being,” she says. “Many of my patients have faced and overcome incredible odds, battling severe illnesses with resilience and courage—and that inspires me. Their strength and determination in the face of adversity are powerful reminders of the human spirit’s capacity for endurance and recovery.”

Houk also strives to make her own positive difference, serving as a Youth Haven board member, an American Heart Association Go Red campaign volunteer and a member of the 2024 Leadership Collier class. She was also among the Haute 100’s inaugural list of most powerful individuals in Naples for her community service and philanthropic efforts.