From cardiothoracic surgeon to federal health chief: the evolution of Mehmet Oz

Health · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mehmet Oz rose to fame as a television personality and author, earning the nickname America’s Doctor for his holistic approach to health. Yet, his career has been marked by sharp transitions, from pioneering heart surgery techniques to facing intense scrutiny over his medical advice, eventually leading him into national politics.

Born in 1960 to Turkish immigrants, Mehmet Oz pursued a rigorous academic path, graduating from Harvard University in 1982 before earning medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He built a significant reputation in cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, where he helped develop medical devices like the MitraClip and left ventricular assist devices. By 2001, he had become a professor of surgery at Columbia University, a role he maintained until 2018.

Oz’s public profile expanded dramatically after he began appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in the early 2000s. His rapport with audiences, fueled by an easygoing manner, led to the launch of The Dr. Oz Show in 2009. While the program won 10 Daytime Emmy Awards, his recommendations frequently drew criticism from the medical community. A 2014 study in the British Medical Journal claimed that over half of his health suggestions either lacked scientific backing or directly contradicted existing evidence. Oz consistently defended his statements as a matter of free speech.

His career took a political turn in 2021 when he campaigned for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Although he lost the 2022 general election, his political trajectory continued after the 2024 presidential election. In 2025, he was confirmed by the Senate to lead the agency responsible for managing healthcare coverage for roughly half of the American population. This appointment marked a definitive shift from his long-standing career in media and clinical practice to a central role in federal health administration.

Throughout his life, Oz has maintained dual citizenship with Turkey and the United States, having served in the Turkish military during the 1980s to retain his status. His transition from a surgeon focused on integrative medicine to a government official overseeing Medicare and Medicaid represents a complex legacy that bridges the worlds of celebrity media, academic medicine, and high-stakes public policy.

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