Opinion | Dr. Oz's Journey From Heart Doctor to Celebrity to Iconoclast
Briefly

Dr. Mehmet Oz, once a respected cardiothoracic surgeon, gained notoriety for his unconventional medical practices and advocacy for unproven therapies. His early career at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital included inviting alternative healers into surgical settings, raising eyebrows among peers and administrators. Despite skepticism, Oz’s approach resonated with patients and helped him build fame. His recent nomination by President Trump for a leading role at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services underscores a trend where personality in health care potentially outweighs scientific rigor, prompting concerns within the medical community about the implications of such appointments for public health policy.
In the mid-1990s, he invited a healer into the hospital's cardiac operating room to run a kind of energy through patients' bodies, claiming health improvements.
Dr. Oz's nonconformist approach endeared him to patients and a public eager for a warmer approach to medicine, becoming a path towards fame and fortune.
His nomination by President Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services signals a trend where science and evidence are seen as negotiable.
Dr. Oz's medical journey transitioned from curiosity to a controversial path, raising concerns about how charisma in health can overshadow scientific integrity.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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