Mehmet Oz | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 17thAdministrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | |
| Assumed office April 8, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Chiquita Brooks-LaSure |
| Co-chair of thePresident's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition | |
| In office 2018–2022 | |
| President | Donald Trump Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Dominique Dawes Drew Brees |
| Succeeded by | Elena Delle Donne José Andrés |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mehmet Cengiz Oz (1960-06-11)June 11, 1960 (age 65) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingDaphne |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MD, MBA) |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Organization(s) | HealthCorps,Sharecare |
| Television | The Dr. Oz Show |
| Occupation |
|
| Awards | Full list |
| Website | doctoroz |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Turkey |
| Branch/service | Turkish Land Forces |
| Years of service | Early 1980s for 60 days[1] |
Oz delivers remarks asserting that use ofParacetamol during pregnancy contributes toautism Recorded September 22, 2025 | |
Mehmet Cengiz Oz[a] (/məˈmɛtˈdʒɛŋɡɪzɒz/ ⓘmə-METJENG-ghiz oz;Turkish:[mehˈmetdʒeɲˈɟizøz]; born June 11, 1960), also known asDr. Oz (/ɒz/ ⓘ), is an American television presenter, physician, author, educator, and government official serving as the 17th administrator of theCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) since 2025.
The son of Turkish immigrants, Oz was raised inWilmington, Delaware. Adual citizen of the U.S. and Turkey, Oz completed 60 days of mandatory military training in theTurkish Army during the 1980s.[b] He subsequently began his residency in surgery atPresbyterian Hospital in New York in 1986, co-founding its Cardiac Complementary Care Center to provide various types ofalternative medicine to heart disease patients. Oz helped create new procedures and medical devices, including theMitraClip. In 2001, Oz became a professor of surgery atColumbia University, retiring to professor emeritus in 2018. In May 2022, the institution cut ties with Oz and removed his presence from their website.
In 2003, theDiscovery Channel launchedSecond Opinion with Dr. Oz, while Oz also appeared as a regular guest onThe Oprah Winfrey Show, making more than sixty appearances. In 2009,The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program about medical matters and health, was launched by Winfrey'sHarpo Productions andSony Pictures Television, running for 13 seasons and winning 10Daytime Emmy Awards. Oz's promotion ofpseudoscience, including on the topics ofalternative medicine,faith healing, and variousparanormal beliefs, has earned him criticism from several medical publications and physicians.[c]
In 2022, Oz ran in theU.S. Senate election inPennsylvania as aRepublican; he was thefirst Muslim candidate for Senate to be nominated by either major party. Oz ultimately lost the election to the Democratic nomineeJohn Fetterman. In 2025, PresidentDonald Trump appointed Oz to lead theCMS, and he was confirmed by the Senate alongparty lines.[d]
Mehmet Oz was born on June 11, 1960 inCleveland,Ohio, to Mustafa and Suna Öz,[6][7] who had emigrated from Turkey.[8][6] His father was born inBozkır,Konya Province, Turkey, and graduated at the top of his class atCerrahpaşa Medical School in 1950. He then moved to the United States to join the general residency program atCase Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where Mehmet was born.[9] Mustafa trained incardiothoracic surgery atEmory University in theAtlanta area and was chief of thoracic surgery at the Medical Center of Delaware for several years before moving back to Turkey.[9] Suna (née Atabay), who comes from a wealthyIstanbul family, is the daughter of apharmacist withCircassian (Shapsug) descent on her mother's side.[10] Suna's great grandmother was brought from the Caucasus to Istanbul as a concubine in theOttoman Imperial Harem ofMahmud II. After Mahmud died, she married an imam.[11] Oz has two sisters, Seval Öz and Nazlim Öz.[12] Oz grew up in a mixed Muslim environment where his father's family practiced more traditional Islam, while his mother's family were moresecular Muslims.[13]
As a child, he spent summers in Turkey[14] and served in theTurkish Army during the 1980s for 60 days after college to maintain hisdual citizenship.[15][16][17]
As his father was training at Emory, Oz and his family briefly moved to Atlanta where his sister Seval was born before moving toWilmington, Delaware. Oz grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and was educated atTower Hill School.[18][19] In 1982, he received his undergraduate degree in biologymagna cum laude[20] atHarvard University.[21] He played safety on Harvard's football team[22] and was a goalkeeper on the men's varsity water polo team.[23] In 1986, he obtained aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) and aMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine[19] and Penn'sWharton School, respectively.[24][25] He was awarded the Captain's Athletic Award for leadership in college[26] and wasclass president and thenstudent body president during medical school.[27]
Oz began his medical career with aresidency ingeneral surgery and a fellowship incardiothoracic surgery at thePresbyterian Hospital in New York City,[28] then affiliated withColumbia University, in 1986 after being hired byEric Rose.[29] In April 1995, Oz and his colleague Jerry Whitworth founded the Cardiac Complementary Care Center to provide various types of alternative medicine to heart disease patients.[30][31] The publicity of Oz's work created tension with hospital administration, who expressed alarm at Oz's use oftherapeutic touch, which he dropped in response to their objections.[30][32]
In 1996, Oz and Rose received media publicity following their work on a successful heart transplant forFrank Torre, brother ofNew York Yankees managerJoe Torre, during the1996 World Series, which the Yankees won.[33][34] Rose later remarked that while he did not enjoy the media attention, Oz "loved it".[34] Meanwhile, Oz and Whitworth's professional relationship grew strained due to the attention Oz was receiving; Whitworth later recounted in an interview withVox that he asked Oz to "stop the media circus".[14] In 2000, Whitworth departed the Cardiac Complementary Care Center, which Oz reopened that same year as the Cardiovascular Institute and Integrative Medicine Program at theNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where he served as director.[14][35]
Oz became a professor at theColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2001,[14] a title he held until 2018 when his current title changed to professor emeritus.[36] In May 2022, the institution cut ties with Oz and removed his presence from their website.[37][38][39]
He has helped develop numerous devices and procedures related to heart surgery, including theMitraClip and the leftventricular assist device (LVAD), and by 2015 held several patents related to heart surgery.[30][40][14]
In 2003, Oz was scheduled to present medical research regardingheart bypass surgery andheart-lung machines to the yearly conference of theAmerican Association for Thoracic Surgery, but Oz was forced to withdraw the presentation and he was banned for two years from presentations to the association or publishing work in the association's medical journal.[41] Association officials said that the ban was not due toacademic dishonesty, but in part due to Oz's team having changed themethodology of the study from what was agreed upon for presentation.[41] Oz's 2022 political campaign said that the incident was due to Oz's team having extended "the scope of the work with more patients".[41] Anonymous sources cited byThe Washington Post said that another reason for the rejection was due to having data from too few test subjects to reach a strong conclusion.[41]
In 2010, Oz joinedJeff Arnold as co-founder ofSharecare, Inc.[42][43] In 2015, a group of 10 physicians demanded Columbia remove Oz from the faculty for his alleged "disdain for science and for evidence-based medicine".[44][45][46][47] Columbia defended Oz and dismissed calls for his termination, saying that they are "committed to the principle of academic freedom and to upholding faculty members' freedom of expression".[48] Oz responded to the call, saying "I bring the public information that will help them on their path to be their best selves" and that his show provides "multiple points of view, including mine, which is offered without conflict of interest."[49]
In 2024, he was accused of not disclosing his role in food supplement companyiHerb, whose products he recommends in his various channels.[50]
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Oz made his television hosting debut withSecond Opinion with Dr. Oz in 2003, aired through theDiscovery Channel and produced by Oz's wife,Lisa.[51] ThroughSecond Opinion, Oz first metOprah Winfrey, who appeared as an interviewee for an episode.[52][53] The show would run for only five episodes, however, Oz and Winfrey cultivated a professional relationship that would lead to Oz regularly appearing as a health expert onThe Oprah Winfrey Show for five seasons, making more than sixty appearances beginning in 2004.[54][55][56][57] In 2009, Winfrey offered to produce a syndicated series hosted by him through her company,Harpo Productions.[58]The Dr. Oz Show debuted on September 14, 2009, distributed bySony Pictures Television.[59][60]
OnThe Dr. Oz Show, Oz addressed issues like Type 2diabetes[61] and promotedresveratrol supplements, which he claimed were anti-aging.[62] HisTransplant! television series won both a Freddie[63] and a Silver Telly award.[64] He was a consultant on heart transplantation forDenzel Washington'sJohn Q.[65]
In January 2011, Oz premiered as part of a weekly advice show onOWN called "Ask Oprah's All-Stars," where he co-starred withSuze Orman andPhil McGraw to answer various questions related to their respective professions.[66] In the 2010s, he also hosted a health segment on1010 WINS titled "Your Daily Dose".[67] On October 23, 2014,Surgeon Oz, showing Oz's career as a surgeon, debuted on OWN.[68]
In September 2016, during hispresidential campaign, Donald Trump appeared onThe Dr. Oz Show.[69] In the lead-up to the show's taping, Oz promoted Trump's appearance with a claim that Oz would assess medical records submitted to the show by Trump and reveal his assessment on the show.[70]CNN speculated that Trump's appearance aimed to appeal toThe Dr. Oz Show's large female viewership.[71][72] Oz would later be appointed to thePresident's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition in 2018 during Trump's administration.[73]
Beginning on March 22, 2021, Oz guest-hosted the trivia television game showJeopardy! for two weeks. The decision to make him a guest host was met with criticism fromJeopardy! fans and former contestants.[74][75][76]
The Dr. Oz Show aired its final episode on January 14, 2022, after over a decade on the air.[77]
While Oz himself has not been found to be involved in medical weight lossscams, he has made statements that were exploited by scammers who have used his image and quotes to sell products falsely marketed for weight loss.[78][79] During a 2014 Senate hearing on consumer protection, SenatorClaire McCaskill said that "the scientific community is almost monolithic against you" for airing segments on weight loss products that are later cited in advertisements, concluding that Oz plays a role, intentional or not, in perpetuating these scams. McCaskill expressed concern with Oz that he was "melding medical advice, news, and entertainment in a way that harms consumers."[80][81] He has been a spokesman and advisor for the websiteRealAge.com, whichThe New York Times has criticized for its pharmaceutical marketing practices.[79]
In 2012, Oz entered into an arrangement withUsana Health Sciences, amulti-level marketing dietary supplement manufacturer, which has been accused of being apyramid scheme.[82] Oz was paid over $50 million over a five year period to promote Usana products on his show.[83][84]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Oz's television appearances influenced Trump's decision-making,[85] and he became an informal advisor to the Trump administration.[86][87][88] Oz had promoted the use ofhydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug,[5] as a cure for COVID-19 on more than 25Fox News broadcasts in March and April 2020.[89][90][91] Trump claimed to be taking the drug in May 2020.[92] In June 2020, theFood and Drug Administration revoked emergency use authorization of hydroxychloroquine, saying that it was "no longer reasonable to believe" that the drug was effective against COVID-19 or that its benefits outweighed "known and potential risks".[93][94][95] Oz also owns at least $630,000 of stock in two companies that manufacture or distribute hydroxychloroquine, Thermo Fisher andMcKesson Corporation.[96]
In April 2020, Oz appeared on Fox News withSean Hannity and said that reopening schools in the United States might be worth the increased number of deaths it would cause. Referencing an article published in the medical journalThe Lancet, Oz said, "I just saw a nice piece inThe Lancet [medical journal] arguing that the opening of schools may only cost us 2–3% in terms of total mortality."[97] Oz's comments provoked a backlash online, and he apologized, saying he had misspoken and that his goal was "to get our children safely back to school."[98]
In 2007, it was reported that Oz had been active in his local chapter of theRepublican Party of New Jersey for several years, and had donated to RepublicansJohn McCain andBill Frist.[99][100] He supported the re-election campaign of PresidentGeorge W. Bush in 2004 and the candidacy ofShmuley Boteach, a rabbi who ran for Congress as a Republican in New Jersey in 2012.[101]
In 2018, Oz was appointed to thePresident's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition by PresidentDonald Trump.[e] In 2022, PresidentJoe Biden asked him to resign from the council on the grounds that Oz's continued membership while running for the Senate would be a violation of theHatch Act, but Oz refused; Biden subsequently removed him from the position.[102][103][104][105]
On November 30, 2021, Oz announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for theUnited States Senate seat inPennsylvania in 2022.[106][107] After Oz announced his candidacy, a number of TV stations inPhiladelphia, New York City, andCleveland said that they would remove his show from the air, compelled by theFCC'sequal-time rule that provide an equivalent air time to any opposing political candidates who request it.[108] In his campaign, he called for immunologistAnthony Fauci, theChief Medical Advisor to the President, to be fired and also opposed vaccine requirements.[109] In March 2022, Oz was fired from the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition due to his candidacy for public office.[104] Conservatives cast doubt on Oz's early candidacy due to concerns about his views and whether he was really conservative.[110][111]
On April 9, 2022, Oz's campaign was endorsed by former president Donald Trump.[112] Oz's ties to Turkey, including hisdual citizenship, were criticized by his Republican primary opponents.[113] Oz called these issues a "distraction" and said that he would renounce hisTurkish citizenship if elected, while his campaign called the attacks "pathetic and xenophobic". Senate Republicans, includingLindsey Graham andKevin Cramer, defended Oz over the issue.[114]
The Republican primary was held on May 17. A day after the election, Oz narrowly led his main opponentDavid McCormick by a difference of just 0.1% of the vote, triggering a mandatory statewide recount. When the election was still too close to call and the mail-in ballots had not yet been counted, Trump urged Oz to declare victory.[115] On May 27, before the recount started, Oz prematurely declared victory, calling himself the presumptive nominee[116] and opposing counting certain mailed ballots.[117] On June 3, Oz became the Republican nominee after McCormick conceded that the recount would not make up the deficit in votes.[118] Oz was subsequently endorsed by three out of four major Republican candidates from the primary, including McCormick, with onlyKathy Barnette initially declining to endorse him.[119] Barnette later stated that she would vote for Oz, while still declining to explicitly endorse him.[120]
During the race, Oz's opponents accused him ofcarpetbagging, as he did not live in Pennsylvania prior to 2020.[121][122] Oz denied these accusations, noting that he owns a home within the state.[123][124] A representative of Oz's campaign also pushed back on the claims, stating "Dr. Oz lives inPennsylvania, votes in Pennsylvania, and has his medical license in Pennsylvania. Dr. Oz grew up in the Greater Philadelphia region, less than 5 miles from the PA border. He went to school in Pennsylvania, met his wife and got married in Pennsylvania, and 2 of his children were born in Pennsylvania. He currently resides in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, where his wife's family has lived for a hundred years."[125]
On August 15, a campaign video from April of Oz shopping in a grocery store wentviral. In the video, Oz says that he is shopping for produce to makecrudités (served withtequila), and says that the perceived high prices are the fault of PresidentJoe Biden. The video was widely ridiculed on social media and became the subject of media coverage.[126] It was filmed at aRedner's Warehouse market, which Oz mistakenly identifies as a "Wegner's".[127] Oz responded to criticism over the video, noting that when creating it, "I was exhausted. When you're campaigning 18 hours a day, I've gotten my kids' names wrong, as well. I don't think that's a measure of someone's ability to lead the commonwealth."[128]
Oz's rival candidateJohn Fetterman suffered a stroke in May 2022 and needed time during the campaign to recover. In late August 2022, the Oz campaign released a list of mock debate concessions it would be willing to make,[129] saying they would "pay for any additional medical personnel [Fetterman] might need to have on standby",[130] that Oz "promises not to intentionally hurt John's feelings",[129] and that "at any point, John Fetterman can raise his hand and say, 'Bathroom break!'".[130] The next day, Fetterman announced that due to his recovery, he would "not be participating in a debate the first week of September"; in response, the Oz campaign said in a statement that "if John Fetterman had ever eaten a vegetable in his life, then maybe he wouldn't have had a major stroke and wouldn't be in the position of having to lie about it constantly", adding that Fetterman's statement was "whiny".[129] Fetterman replied, "Today's statement from Dr. Oz's team made it abundantly clear that they think it is funny to mock a stroke survivor. I chose not to participate in this farce. My recovery may be a joke to Dr. Oz and his team, but it's real for me."[130]
In September 2022, Oz called on Fetterman to participate in a debate against him before early voting begins in Pennsylvania on September 19.[131] Fetterman agreed to debate Oz in "the middle to end of October" but would not commit to an exact date or to a debate in September.[132] Fetterman's approach to the debate was criticized by Oz and SenatorPat Toomey.[133] On September 15, Oz and Fetterman agreed to a single debate, which was held on October 25.[134]
Oz lost to Fetterman in the Senate election by a margin of 4.9%, conceding defeat on November 9, 2022, and further urging "everyone to put down their partisan swords and focus on getting the job done".[135][136][137] Oz was thefirst Muslim candidate for Senate to be nominated by either major party and,[138][139][140] had he been elected, would have been the first Muslim toserve in the U.S. Senate, the first Muslim to serve in theUnited States Congress as a Republican,[141] and one of thewealthiest members of Congress.[142]
On November 19, 2024, Oz was named byPresident-elect Donald Trump to serve as administrator for theCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in hissecond administration. Trump said that Oz would work alongsideRobert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for secretary ofHealth and Human Services (HHS), of which the CMS is a subdivision, to cut waste and fraud. Trump also said that Oz would "incentivize disease prevention".[143][144][145][146] His predecessor at CMS wasChiquita W. Brooks-LaSure.[147]
Unlike the reported hesitancy among Senate Republicans concerning Kennedy's nomination, Oz received a more favorable response, with SenatorSusan Collins, who had previously campaigned for him during his Senate run,[148] calling him "well respected."Mark McClellan, former CMS administrator under PresidentGeorge W. Bush, also praised his selection.[149] Fetterman, Oz's former opponent, would express openness in voting to confirm him; in a statement, Fetterman said so long as "Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I'm voting for the dude."[150] In February 2025, Oz pledged to sell his stock investments in healthcare companies, if confirmed for the position.[151]
On March 14, 2025, Oz was interviewed by theU.S. Senate Finance Committee about his qualifications for becoming the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.[147] SenatorRon Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, asked Oz to give a "yes" or "no" answer to whether he would fight against Medicaid cuts. In response, Oz said, "I cherish Medicaid, and I've worked within the Medicaid environment quite extensively."[152] Wyden then accused Oz of supporting "premium hikes for families who purchase their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act."[153]
On April 3, the Senate confirmed Oz as CMS administrator alongparty lines by a vote of 53–45.[d][156][157]
Oz assumed office on April 8, 2025.[158] He was ceremonially sworn in by President Trump on April 18, 2025.[159]
On April 10, during his first all-staff meeting at CMS, Oz praised Secretary Kennedy'sMake America Healthy Again initiative and called for replacing humanphysicians withartificial intelligence models.[160][161] On April 11, Oz announced that Medicare would not pay for "gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments in minors".[162]
In July, CMS would giveImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to the personal data of over 79 million Medicaid enrollees, intended to aide them in theirdeportation efforts. HHS responded to media inquiry on this data transfer, stating: "Under the leadership of Dr. Oz, CMS is aggressively cracking down on states that may be misusing federal Medicaid funds to subsidize care for illegal immigrants."[163] Permission to access Medicaid records was first authorized by Secretary Kennedy in June, following an agreement to provide Medicaid enrollment information reached between the Trump administration and Kennedy's top advisers, despite protests from CMS staff against such a move.[164][165][166] The access to personal data went against internal department policy, dating back to 2013, forbidding the use of Medicaid records when it came to deportation enforcement. The ability for ICE to use CMS data would be blocked by JudgeVince Chhabria the following month.[166]
On September 22, Oz co-authored an opinion piece inPolitico, discussing research betweenleucovorin and potential treatment forautistic children. Oz wrote that leucovorin could help autistic children improve their verbal communication, while emphasizing that it "is not a cure for autism." He added that leucovorin would soon be approved as a form of treatment by theFood and Drug Administration. Oz also encouraged pregnant women to useacetaminophen "judiciously", and acknowledgedconflicting research between its usage among pregnant women and their children's subsequent diagnosis of autism.[167] On September 26, Oz encouraged pregnant women to consult with their doctors before takingTylenol, and ultimately follow their doctor's recommendation.[168]
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Making his 2022 Senate campaign announcement in late 2021, Oz identified himself as a "conservative Republican".[170] In 2022, after his primary win, Oz described himself as "a moderate leader, but not passive."[171]
In 2007, Oz had described himself as a "moderate Republican" and citedArnold Schwarzenegger andTheodore Roosevelt as inspirations.[99][100]
In 2022, Oz announced that he supported overturning the 1973 Supreme CourtRoe v. Wade decision and was against abortion, except for when the mother's life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.[172][173] In June 2022, he said he was "relieved" by the Supreme Court's decision inDobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.[174] During a telephone town hall in May 2022, Oz said: "I do believe life starts at conception, and I've said that multiple times. ... If life starts at conception, why do you care what stage our hearts starts beating at? It's, you know, it's still murder."[175]
Prior to 2019, Oz had supportedabortion rights, although he said that he disliked abortion on "a personal level". He said that when he was in medical school at theUniversity of Pennsylvania, he saw the results of "traumatic ... coat hanger events" in which women had been "harmed for life" beforeRoe.[176] He also noted at the time that he was opposed tosix-week abortion bans.[177][178]
In October 2022, Oz said that "women, doctors, local political leaders" should put "ideas forward so states can decide for themselves" how to regulate abortions, but also clarified that "I don't want the federal government involved with that, at all".[179][180][181]
In March 2020, Oz suggested thathydroxychloroquine, a drug typically used to treat rheumatological conditions and as an anti-malarial, could be used to treat COVID-19 as well. Oz also owns at least $630,000 of stock in two companies that manufacture or distribute hydroxychloroquine, Thermo Fisher andMcKesson Corporation.[182] In April 2020, he called for the reopening of schools. Oz has however promoted theefficacy of wearing masks and of gettingvaccinated against the virus.[183]
He initially praisedAnthony Fauci as a "pro" and lauded his role in combating the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Upon running for the Senate, however, Oz changed his tone on Fauci and referred to him as a "tyrant".[184] Oz said in 2022 when running for the Senate that "it's time we get back to normal".[183]
In an October 2022 interview withNBC, Oz said that he would "potentially" support thedeath penalty for dealers offentanyl.[185]
Oz is a supporter ofschool choice andcharter schools.[186] He has criticized the power of teachers' unions and their close relationship with the Democratic Party.[186]
In 2017, Oz co-authored an article that highlighted the threats ofclimate change including extreme heat, wildfires and floods. When running for the Senate, hedownplayed the risk thatcarbon dioxide poses when contributing to the role of thegreenhouse effect incontributing to climate change.[187] In a March 2022 campaign event, Oz claimed that carbon dioxide is "not the problem".[188]
In 2022, Oz said that he supports the process ofhydraulic fracturing ("fracking") and believes thatnatural gas can help the United States becomeenergy independent and reduce gasoline prices.[189] In keeping with this view, he says he supports reducing environmental regulations on fracking.[189] However, in 2014, Oz had called for more regulations on fracking, including halting the practice until the environmental impact had been researched more, because of the possible connection between fracking and the pollution of air and waterways.[189]
Oz has faced "dual loyalty" charges from critics, alleging he holds ties to Turkey's rulingJustice and Development Party.[190] During his Republican primary campaign for Senate in December 2021, theNational Review published a list of instances in which Oz interacted with people or groups associated withRecep Tayyip Erdoğan or his political party. Oz has denied any involvement with Erdoğan or the Turkish government, saying he had "never been politically involved in Turkey in any capacity."[191]
In 2022, Oz took a "tough on China" stance similar to theTrump wing of the Republican Party. A key part of his primary campaign involved attacking rivalDavid McCormick's business ties to mainland China. Oz faced scrutiny on this, due to his 2013 partnership with Neusoft Xikang, the health technology subsidiary of Chinese tech companyNeusoft, where he served as their chief health advisor.[192][193]
In 2022, Oz said that Israel is "an ally and a vibrant democracy in the world's most troubled region" and that he opposes theBDS Movement, supports keeping the US Embassy in Jerusalem and supports continued military aid to Israel.[194] Oz has long been a supporter of Israel and visited the country in 2013. When speaking about theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict in an interview withThe Forward, Oz said "It's not black and white. The ultimate solution will be driven by financial means. Peace is an imperative for that. When people love their children so much, they'll do whatever it takes to make their future brighter."[195]
Oz condemned theRussian invasion of Ukraine, calling it "horrible" and "preventable".[196]
Oz has said that he supports the constitutional right to bear arms under theSecond Amendment.[197] At a campaign event in February 2022, Oz said that he supportsred flag-style laws for those expressing dangerous behavior, but opposes a national red flag law registry.[197] Previously, in 2017, Oz had expressed support for waiting periods before someone can acquire a gun, and in 2019 he co-wrote a column that called for the United States to ban assault rifles altogether.[197]
In 2009, Oz said "It should be mandatory that everybody in America have healthcare coverage. If you can't afford it, we have to give it to you..."[198] And in 2010, Oz supported a government-backed healthcare system and was featured in an advertisement that promoted theAffordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.[184] Oz has said that the healthcare systems that he thinks work the best are Germany and Switzerland, which are bothuniversal healthcare systems.[198]
By contrast, in 2022, Oz said that he would vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act if he were elected to the Senate, and backedMedicare Advantage Plus.[198] Regarding those without healthcare coverage, Oz said they "don't have a right to health, but they have a right to access, to get that health."[199]
In 2010, Oz hosted and offered support to transgender youth and their families on his television show.[200][201][202] In 2012, after facing criticism for hosting a guest who supported pseudoscientificreparative or conversion therapy on his show, he announced that he is opposed to conversion therapy and called conversion therapy "dangerous".[203][204] Oz also had guests fromGLAAD on his show who spoke out against conversion therapy.[205]
As a Senate candidate, Oz endorsed enacting federal protections of same-sex marriage.[206][207] In April 2022, Oz supported legislation to prohibit transgender people from participating in sports that are divided by gender-based categories rather than sex-based categories.[173] In May 2022, he said that atransgender youth movement is based on "false science", while not supporting a ban on hormone blockers, adding that the doctor and family should decide, rather than politicians.[208]
In 2014, Oz said onLarry King Live that "marijuana is hugely beneficial when used correctly formedicinal purposes" and in 2017 criticized the federal government for classifying marijuana as aSchedule I drug, which prevents more scientific research on marijuana.[209][210] While running for the Senate in 2022, Oz said he opposes the legalization of recreationalcannabis, but was not against it for medical purposes.[211] In an interview withNBC News, Oz expressed support for PresidentJoe Biden's effort to pardon those convicted of simple marijuana possession at the federal level.[212]
Oz is fluent in English and Turkish.[213] His net worth is between $100 million and $300 million.[142][214]
In August 2010, Oz was diagnosed with a pre-cancerouspolyp in the colon during a routinecolonoscopy[215] which was performed as part of his show. Oz said that the procedure likely saved his life.[216]
In 2019, Oz played for the Home roster during theNBA All-Star Celebrity Game at theBojangles' Coliseum inCharlotte, North Carolina. The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots.[217] He previously played in the2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.[218] Also in 2019, Oz played for Team Cleveland inMajor League Baseball'sAll-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game atProgressive Field in Cleveland.[219]
Oz was born inCleveland, Ohio, and raised inWilmington, Delaware. He lived with his wife, Lisa, inCliffside Park, New Jersey, for several decades,[220][221] and holds his medical license within Pennsylvania.[222]
In late 2020, Oz moved to Pennsylvania and changed his voter registration to his in-laws' home inBryn Athyn, where he says he pays market price rent.[223] He has since voted twice in Pennsylvania and acquired a Pennsylvanian driver's license and a Pennsylvaniaconcealed carry permit.[222]
Oz and his wife own at least ten properties throughout the United States and Turkey, including an estate inPalm Beach, Florida valued between $5 million and $25 million, and a cattle farm inOkeechobee, Florida.[214][224] In 2025, Oz offered to relocate a flock of 400ostriches inBritish Columbia, set to be culled amid anAvian flu outbreak, to his ranch in Florida.[225]
Oz is adual citizen of the U.S. and Turkey.[20] He has said that he maintains hisTurkish citizenship to care for his ailing mother withAlzheimer's, but Oz expressed he would renounce it before being sworn in if he was ultimately elected to the Senate. There is no U.S. law which forbids members of Congress from being dual citizens.[226][227]
Oz married his wife,Lisa Oz, an author and television personality, in 1985.[228] The two met in Philadelphia through their fathers, while Oz was attending the University of Pennsylvania.[221] According to Oz, he proposed to her on a city street corner, using a tab from a discarded soda can as a makeshift ring.[222] The couple have four children together:[229] including eldest daughterDaphne, who is also an author and television host. Oz and his wife foundedHealthCorps, a non-profit organization for health education andpeer mentoring.[230]
In November 2020, Oz was sued by his sister Nazlim Öz. Nazlim alleged that he was withholding her rental income from apartments owned by their late father Mustafa Öz. Oz said that he was forced to hold payments from the apartments inescrow, as their mother and other relatives were suing Nazlim in Turkishprobate court over the distribution of Mustafa Öz's estate.[231][232]
As of 2022[update], Oz identifies as "secular Muslim" and, according to theAssociated Press, "has said that the spiritual side of Islam resonates with him more than the religious law side of it." Oz aligns his personal Muslim religious views withSufism.[233][234][235] Oz has expressed toCBN News his opposition toSharia law in the US. Noting that his wife and children are Christians, Oz told CBN that he believes that the U.S. was founded onJudeo-Christian values.[236] His wife Lisa introduced Oz to theteachings of the 18th-century Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg[237] as well as toalternative medicines orEastern mysticisms such asreiki andtranscendental meditation.[238][239][240][241][242]
In a 2012 interview withHenry Louis Gates Jr., Oz said that his father strictly followedIslam, while his mother was a secularKemalist.[240]
Oz has faced criticism for his promotion ofpseudoscience,[4][5] includinghomeopathy,[243][244] andalternative medicine.[81]Popular Science[245] andThe New Yorker[58] have published critical articles on Oz for giving non-scientific advice.[58]HuffPost has accused Oz of promotingquackery.[246]
A 2014 study published in theBritish Medical Journal found that medical talk shows such asThe Dr. Oz Show andThe Doctors often lack adequate information on the specific benefits or evidence of their claims. Forty episodes of each program from early 2013 were evaluated, determining that evidence supported 46 percent, contradicted 15 percent, and was not found for 39 percent of the recommendations onThe Dr Oz Show.[2] Unfounded claims included saying apple juice had unsafe levels of arsenic and cell phones could cause breast cancer.[5]
Oz was awarded theJames Randi Educational Foundation'sPigasus Award 2009 for his promotion ofreiki.[247][248][249][250] However, he used reiki for moral support to patients in the operating room, and claimed that he was unfairly attacked.[251]
Oz has been criticized for the guests he has invited ontoThe Dr. Oz Show, including psychics, faith healers, peddlers of unproven or disproven medical treatments, andanti-vaccination activists, includingJoseph Mercola,Robert F. Kennedy Jr., andChristiane Northrup.[252][253][254]
From 1999 to 2004, Oz was named a "Global Leader of Tomorrow" by theWorld Economic Forum[6] and was listed onTime Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" of 2008.[255] He was nominated for tenDaytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show Host withThe Dr. Oz Show which aired from 2009 to 2022, and won the award four times (in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2016).[256][257][258][259]
Emmy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Won |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative[f] | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Won |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Won | ||
| 2012 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Won | ||
| 2013 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Won | ||
| 2014 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Won |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Won |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Won | ||
| 2018 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Won | ||
| 2019 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host | Nominated |
| Outstanding Talk Show Informative | Nominated |
People's Choice Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Daytime TV Host | Nominated |
Other
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–2004 | Global Leader of Tomorrow | Awarded by theWorld Economic Forum |
| 2022 | Star on theHollywood Walk of Fame | [260] |
Eight of Oz's books have beenNew York Times bestsellers; seven were written withMichael F. Roizen. He has a regular column inEsquire magazine andO, The Oprah Magazine and his article "Retool, Reboot, and Rebuild" was awarded the 2009 National Magazine Award for Personal Service.[261] Oz and theHearst Corporation launched the bi-monthly magazineDr. Oz The Good Life on February 4, 2014.[262]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) |
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor | Consultant | |||
| 2002 | John Q. | No | Yes | Consultant: Heart Transplantation |
| 2017 | Mom and Dad | Yes | No | Self |
| TBA | Trouble Down Under | Yes | No | Doc the Cattle Dog (voice) |
| Year | Title[263] | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 60 Minutes | Self | Episode: "The U.S. Border Patrol/The Pump/Kuwait: Ten Years Later" |
| 2003–2004 | Second Opinion with Dr. Oz | Self | 5 episodes |
| 2005 | You: The Owner's Manual | Self | |
| 2006–2011 | The Oprah Winfrey Show | Self | 9 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Live with Kelly and Ryan | Self | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2009 | Larry King Live | Self | 7 episodes |
| 2008–2021 | Good Morning America | Self | 8 episodes |
| 2008–2020 | The View | Self | 11 episodes |
| 2008; 2016 | The Insider | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | The Colbert Report | Self | Episode: "Dr. Mehmet Oz" |
| 2009 | The Early Show | Self | Episode: "26 September 2009" |
| 2009–2022 | The Dr. Oz Show | Self | 1,681 episodes |
| 2009–2021 | Jeopardy![264] | Guest host/video clue presenter | 23 episodes |
| 2009–2021 | Entertainment Tonight | Self | 12 episodes |
| 2009–2019 | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Self | 8 episodes |
| 2009 | 20/20 | Self | Episode: "Amanda Knox Verdict/Chris Brown/D.I.Y. Cosmetic Procedures/Indoor Tanning Salons" |
| 2009–2011 | Late Show with David Letterman | Self | 3 episodes |
| 2009–2011 | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Self | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates Jr. | Self | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Saturday Night Live | Self; uncredited | Episode: "Zach Galifianakis/Vampire Weekend" |
| 2010 | Stand Up to Cancer | Self | TV special |
| 2010 | The Lisa Oz & Kim Coles Show | Self | |
| 2010–2012 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2018 | Rachael Ray | Self | 15 episodes |
| 2011 | Oprah's Guide to OWN | Self | TV special |
| 2011 | The Nate Berkus Show | Self | Episode: "Dr. Oz's Must Haves for Every Home" |
| 2011–2018 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Self | Awards show; 4 years |
| 2011 | Ask Oprah's All-Stars | Self | 6 episodes |
| 2011 | Hollywood Icons and Innovators | Self | Episode 1.4 |
| 2011–2012 | The Soup | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2019 | The Wendy Williams Show | Self | 9 episodes |
| 2011–2020 | Today | Self | 68 episodes |
| 2012 | Chelsea Lately | Self | Episode #6.35 |
| 2012 | The Hour | Self | Episode #8.147 |
| 2012 | Citizen Hearst | Self | Documentary |
| 2012 | Mankind: The Story of All of Us | Self | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Erin Burnett OutFront | Self | Episode: December 18, 2012 |
| 2012–2014 | NY Med | Self | 6 episodes |
| 2012–2018 | Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen | Self | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | The Doctors | Self | Episode: "High-Tech Treatments: Can They Help You?" |
| 2013 | Secret History of Humans | Self | 6 episodes |
| 2013 | Big Morning Buzz Live | Self | Episode: "Dr. Oz/David Arquette/Betty Who" |
| 2013 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? | Contestant | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | 2013 Soul Train Music Awards | Self | |
| 2013; 2016 | Tavis Smiley | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2013–2021 | Inside Edition | Self | 13 episodes |
| 2013–2020 | Fox & Friends[265] | Self | 43 episodes |
| 2014 | The Dr. Tess Show | Self | Episode: "Guesting on the Dr. Oz Show" |
| 2014 | The Queen Latifah Show | Self | Episode: "Dr. Oz/Tim Conway/Tyrese Gibson/World-Renowned ChefWolfgang Puck" |
| 2014 | Finding Thin | Self | Documentary |
| 2014 | Late Night with Seth Meyers | Self | Episode: "Dr. Mehmet Oz/Norman Reedus/American Authors" |
| 2014 | Larry King Now | Self | Episode: "Dr. Oz" |
| 2014 | Geraldo Rivera Reports | Self | Episode: "Remembering Joan Rivers" |
| 2014 | TMZ on TV | Self | Episode: October 4, 2014 |
| 2014 | Talk Stoop | Self | Episode: "Hosting the Hosts" |
| 2014 | Surgeon Oz | Self | 10-episode documentary |
| 2014–2017 | The Chew | Self | 6 episodes |
| 2015; 2019 | Weekend Today | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Access Daily | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2020 | Extra | Self | 10 episodes |
| 2016 | Dr. Ken | Self | Episode: "Delayed in Honolulu" |
| 2017 | Sunrise | Self | Episode: September 1, 2017 |
| 2017 | Daily Pop | Self | Episode: September 19, 2017 |
| 2017 | Springfield of Dreams: The Legend of Homer Simpson | Self | TV movie documentary |
| 2017 | Hollywood Christmas Parade | Self | Grand Marshal |
| 2017 | Nightcap | Self | 4 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Megyn Kelly Today | Self | 4 episodes |
| 2017; 2020 | The Strip Live | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2020 | Access Hollywood | Self | 3 episodes |
| 2017; 2021 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Morfi, todos a la mesa | Self | Episode: May 15, 2018 |
| 2018 | Wheel of Fortune | Self | Episode: "Gone Fishing 1" |
| 2018 | The Marilyn Denis Show | Self | Episode: 9.18 |
| 2018 | Tanked | Self | Episode: "The Wonderful Dr. Oz Tank" |
| 2018 | Crashing | Self | Episode: "Pete and Leif" |
| 2018–2019 | Celebrity Page | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | NBA on ESPN | Self | Episode: "2019 Celebrity Game" |
| 2019 | Race Against Time | Self | Documentary |
| 2019 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Self | Episode: "Ali Wong and Dr. Mehmet Oz" |
| 2020 | Mastercast Live | Self | Episode: "Mehmet Oz (showcase) on MASTERCAST LIVE" |
| 2020 | Fox Files | Self | Episode: "America vs. Virus" |
| 2020 | The Ingraham Angle | Self | Episode: March 23, 2020 |
| 2020 | Good Day New York | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Match Game | Self | Episode: "James Van Der Beek, Cheryl Hines, Thomas Lennon, Sherri Shepherd, Dr. Oz, Laura Benanti" |
| 2020 | The Issue Is | Self | 3 episodes |
| 2020–2021 | Hannity | Self | 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Dr. Phil | Self | Episode: "Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz Fight Fraudsters!" |
| 2021 | Inside Edition Weekend | Self | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | The Drew Barrymore Show | Self | Episode: "Dr. Oz" |
| 2021 | Dish Nation | Self | Episode: 10.62 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mehmet Oz | 420,168 | 31.2 | |
| Republican | David McCormick | 419,218 | 31.1 | |
| Republican | Kathy Barnette | 331,903 | 24.7 | |
| Republican | Carla Sands | 73,360 | 5.4 | |
| Republican | Jeff Bartos | 66,684 | 5.0 | |
| Republican | Sean Gale | 20,266 | 1.5 | |
| Republican | George Bochetto | 14,492 | 1.1 | |
| Total votes | 1,346,091 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Fetterman | 2,751,012 | 51.2 | ||
| Republican | Mehmet Oz | 2,487,260 | 46.3 | ||
| Libertarian | Erik Gerhardt | 72,887 | 1.3 | ||
| Green | Richard L. Weiss | 30,434 | 0.5 | ||
| Keystone | Dan Wassmer | 26,428 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 5,368,021 | 100.0 | |||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | |||||
He also served in the Turkish army for 60 days in the early 1980s
Oz retained dual nationality by serving in the Turkish army for 60 days in the early 1980s.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)That is his base line, to which he adds more yoga, short runs and basketball games with friends near his home in Cliffside Park, N.J., when he can.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromPennsylvania (Class 3) 2022 | Most recent |
