Authorities are investigating the death of Dr. Dmitriy Zak, a Mountain Home oncologist and hematologist whose body was discovered Tuesday morning in Lake Norfork.
Mountain Home Police Chief Eddie Griffin reported that Dr. Zak was initially declared missing on Monday. His vehicle was located Tuesday in the Henderson area before search teams found his body in shallow water near Henderson Campground around 11:30 a.m.
The search involved personnel from the Mountain Home Police Department, Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arkansas Department of Correction K-9 team. Chief Griffin indicated that Dr. Zak’s body will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. No additional details have been made available by law enforcement at this time.
Dr. Zak, who joined Highlands Oncology in Mountain Home in 2023, was highly regarded by colleagues and the community. Highlands Oncology and Baxter Health released a joint statement expressing their profound grief over his death. The statement described Dr. Zak as a dedicated physician known for his expertise and compassionate care, noting he had been honored five times with the Halo Award from Baxter Health.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Dr. Zak’s family, his patients, his colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched,” the statement read. It also emphasized a commitment to ensuring uninterrupted care for Dr. Zak’s patients during this period of transition.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dr. Zak’s death remains active.