Dr Oz: Career, Controversies, and CMS Role Explained

Few public figures have made a pivot as dramatic as Dr. Mehmet Oz: from scrubbing into heart surgeries to hosting a daytime talk show, and now from television screens to the top federal health agency. In 2025, he became the 17th Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS official bio), a role that places him in charge of health coverage for more than 140 million Americans.

Full name: Mehmet Cengiz Oz · Born: June 11, 1960 · Profession: Cardiothoracic surgeon, television host, author · Current role: 17th Administrator of CMS · Notable TV show: The Dr. Oz Show (2009–2022) · Net worth (estimated): $100 million – $300 million

Eight key facts about Dr. Oz’s biography, one pattern: a life divided into distinct chapters — medicine, television, controversy, and now federal policy.

What kind of doctor is Dr Oz?

Medical training and specialization

Dr. Oz earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and an MBA from the Wharton School (People.com biography). After completing a cardiothoracic surgery residency at Columbia University, he became a professor of surgery there (Society of Thoracic Surgeons). His clinical work focused on heart and lung procedures, and he co-founded the Cardiovascular Institute at Columbia.

Board certifications and hospital affiliations

• Board-certified in cardiothoracic surgery (PubMed Central)
• Attending surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Biography.com profile)
• Published more than 500 research articles (PubMed Central)

Dr. Oz’s medical credentials are solid — he was a full professor at a top institution — but his public advocacy for alternative medicine and unproven treatments created a split between his surgical reputation and his TV persona.

Why did Dr. Oz get canceled?

Controversies and Senate hearing

In 2014, Dr. Oz testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection about weight-loss product claims he had promoted on his show (ABC News report). Senators challenged him for endorsing “magic” fat burners that lacked scientific backing. The hearing became a turning point: medical groups publicly distanced themselves, and Oprah Winfrey later denounced some of his statements during the pandemic (Newsweek article).

Decline in viewership and show end

The Dr. Oz Show ended in 2022 after 13 seasons (People.com biography). Ratings had slipped from a peak of 4 million daily viewers to about 1.5 million. The combination of diminished trust and shifting daytime TV habits contributed to the cancellation.

Transition to CMS role

After the show ended, Oz ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 but lost (The Hill). Then in November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced him as his pick to lead CMS (ABC News report).

The implication: Oz’s policy decisions will be measured against his past promotion of unproven treatments.

Does Oprah still have a relationship with Dr. Oz?

Oprah’s public statements about Dr. Oz

Oprah Winfrey’s relationship with Oz began in the early 2000s when he appeared as a guest on her show. She called him “the future of medicine” and later invited him to make regular appearances (Biography.com profile). The “Oprah effect” propelled his fame. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oprah distanced herself, telling People in 2020 that she was disappointed in some of his statements (Newsweek article).

Dr. Oz’s appearances on Oprah’s network

After his own show launched in 2009, Oz continued to appear occasionally on Oprah’s digital platforms, but those appearances grew less frequent. By 2022, there were no public crossovers.

Current status of their friendship

The two have not collaborated publicly for years. NPR’s 2025 analysis of the “Oprah effect” noted that Oprah’s initial backing created Oz’s platform, but she now “distant” from his brand (NPR analysis).

The pattern: the relationship became a liability for Oprah as Oz’s controversies grew.

What is Dr. Oz’s religion?

Religious background and beliefs

Dr. Oz is a Muslim (Biography.com profile). His father, Mustafa Oz, was a Turkish immigrant and heart surgeon who introduced him to Islamic traditions. Oz has spoken in interviews about how his faith shapes his approach to medicine and family.

Public statements on faith

In a 2018 interview with People, he described prayer and charity as central to his personal life. He has also addressed Islamophobic comments he received after his Senate run, stating that his religion is “not a campaign issue.”

What happened to Dr Oz?

From TV host to CMS administrator

After a failed Senate bid, Dr. Oz returned to a role that few expected: chief of one of the largest health agencies in the world. On April 10, 2025, he completed his first week as CMS Administrator (CMS press release).

Political appointment under President Trump

Trump nominated Oz in November 2024, describing him as “a world-class doctor and a fighter for patients” (The Washington Post). The appointment drew immediate criticism from medical ethics groups who called it a reward for Oz’s political loyalty.

Current responsibilities at CMS

Oz now oversees the $1.3 trillion Medicare and Medicaid budget, as well as the ACA marketplaces (Society of Thoracic Surgeons). His official CMS biography says he serves under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Trump (CMS.gov).

The catch: Oz’s federal power may be used to validate the very supplements he once hawked.

Timeline

The pattern: Oz has moved from medicine to media to politics, each transition sparked by controversy or opportunity.

For a man who once claimed to hold the keys to wellness, Dr. Oz now holds the keys to federal health programs that touch every American over 65 or in poverty. The question is not whether he can shift from TV to policy — he already has — but whether the same instincts that made him a divisive figure will shape the government’s approach to medicine. For patients and providers watching from the sidelines, the choice is clear: trust that the surgeon still listens to evidence, or brace for more sales pitches, this time with federal authority.

For a deeper look at how his television persona clashed with medical credibility, see Dr. Ozs career and controversies.

Frequently asked questions

The answers reflect the polarizing nature of Oz’s public profile.

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