diff --git a/deepspeed/runtime/zero/partition_parameters.py b/deepspeed/runtime/zero/partition_parameters.py
index 5a1a40460e16..c654e66abc59 100755
--- a/deepspeed/runtime/zero/partition_parameters.py
+++ b/deepspeed/runtime/zero/partition_parameters.py
@@ -864,19 +864,20 @@ def _partition_gradient(self, param, partition_buffer=None, accumulate=False):
 
 
 class GatheredParameters:
-    def __init__(self, param, modifier_rank=None, fwd_module=None, enabled=True):
-        """A context that collects a parameter that was partitioned via a
-        :class:`deepspeed.zero.Init` context. The parameter is partitioned
+    def __init__(self, params, modifier_rank=None, fwd_module=None, enabled=True):
+        """A context that collects parameters that were partitioned via a
+        :class:`deepspeed.zero.Init` context. The parameters are partitioned
         again upon exit.
 
         Args:
-            param (``torch.nn.Parameter``): The parameter to collect.
+            params (``torch.nn.Parameter``): A single parameter or a list of parameters to collect.
+                It's assumed that all parameters are zero params.
             modifier_rank (int, optional): If specified, this rank's parameter will be
-                broadcasted after the context. This argument is required if ``param`` is
-                modified all processes should have a consistent view of the data. Defaults
+                broadcasted on exit from the context. This argument is required if ``params`` are
+                modified, so that all processes have a consistent view of the data. Defaults
                 to ``None``.
-            fwd_module (``torch.nn.Module``, optional): If specified, ``param`` will be
-                registered as an external parameter of ``fwd_module``. See :meth:`deepspeed.zero.register_external_parameter`.
+            fwd_module (``torch.nn.Module``, optional): If specified, ``params`` will be
+                registered as external parameters of ``fwd_module``. See :meth:`deepspeed.zero.register_external_parameter`.
             enabled (bool, optional): If ``False``, this context is a no-op. Defaults to ``True``.
 
         Examples
@@ -911,41 +912,79 @@ def forward(self, input):
                                                            fwd_module=self):
                         y = self.layer2(x, self.layer1.weight)
                     return y
+
+
+        #. Pretrained model loading
+
+            .. code-block:: python
+
+                with deepspeed.zero.Init():
+                    model = MyModel()
+
+                state_dict = torch.load(model_path, map_location="cpu")
+
+                def load(module: nn.Module, prefix=""):
+                    # because zero3 puts placeholders in model params, this context
+                    # manager gathers (unpartitions) the params of the current layer, then loads from
+                    # the state dict and then re-partitions them again
+                    with deepspeed.zero.GatheredParameters(list(module.parameters(recurse=False)), modifier_rank=0):
+                        if torch.distributed.get_rank() == 0:
+                            module._load_from_state_dict(state_dict, prefix)
+
+                    for name, child in module._modules.items():
+                        if child is not None:
+                            load(child, prefix + name + ".")
+
+                load(model, prefix="")
+
+        If this approach is not used, then the full model will first get copied to each GPU. For models
+        bigger than the memory of a single gpu this method is required.
         """
 
         self.enabled = enabled
         if not enabled:
             return
 
-        # This is a no-op, just return.
-        if not is_zero_param(param):
+        if not isinstance(params, list):
+            params = [params]
+
+        # enable if at least one is zero-param, otherwise a noop
+        if not any(is_zero_param(p) for p in params):
             self.enabled = False
             return
 
-        self.param = param
+        self.params = params
         self.src_rank = None
         if modifier_rank is not None:
-            if self.param.ds_process_group == torch.distributed.group.WORLD:
+            if self.params[0].ds_process_group == torch.distributed.group.WORLD:
                 self.src_rank = modifier_rank
             else:
                 # A group was specified; convert DP rank to global rank
-                self.src_rank = _get_global_rank(self.param.ds_process_group,
+                self.src_rank = _get_global_rank(self.params[0].ds_process_group,
                                                  modifier_rank)
         self.fwd_module = fwd_module
         if self.fwd_module is not None:
             # is a no-op if already registered
-            register_external_parameter(self.fwd_module, self.param)
+            for p in self.params:
+                register_external_parameter(self.fwd_module, p)
 
     def __enter__(self):
         if not self.enabled:
             return
-        self.param.all_gather()
+        self.params[0].all_gather(param_list=self.params)
 
     def __exit__(self, *exc):
         if not self.enabled:
             return
-        if self.src_rank is not None:
-            torch.distributed.broadcast(self.param,
+        if self.src_rank is None:
+            return
+
+        handles = [
+            torch.distributed.broadcast(p,
                                         self.src_rank,
-                                        group=self.param.ds_process_group)
-        self.param.partition(has_been_updated=self.src_rank is not None)
+                                        group=p.ds_process_group,
+                                        async_op=True) for p in self.params
+        ]
+        for h in handles:
+            h.wait()
+        self.params[0].partition(param_list=self.params, has_been_updated=True)