You’ve seen him on your TV screen for over a decade, usually gesturing toward a plastic model of a colon or holding a human heart with latex gloves. Maybe you know him as the guy Oprah made famous, or perhaps you know him from his more recent, and much louder, political life. But if you strip away the Emmy awards and the campaign posters, what is the actual medical reality?
Basically, Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon.
That isn't just a fancy title. It means he spent years training specifically to cut into chests and fix the most vital machinery we have: hearts and lungs. While his television persona often drifted into the world of "miracle" weight loss cures and questionable supplements, his foundational training is in some of the most rigorous, high-stakes medicine on the planet.
The Academic Grind: How He Became a Surgeon
He didn't just stumble into a white coat. Mehmet Oz’s academic pedigree is, honestly, pretty intimidating. He started at Harvard University for his undergraduate degree, but the real heavy lifting happened at the University of Pennsylvania.
He didn't just get an MD. He’s one of those overachievers who also grabbed an MBA from the Wharton School at the same time. He graduated with both in 1986.
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Why the business degree? It probably explains how he was able to turn a medical career into a massive media empire later on. But before the cameras, there was the residency. He did his surgical training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. This is where he specialized in cardiothoracic surgery, eventually becoming a professor at Columbia University and the director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York-Presbyterian.
For a long time, he was considered a genuine "rock star" in the operating room. He wasn't just a doctor; he was a pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. He holds several patents on medical devices—like the MitraClip—designed to repair heart valves without having to crack the entire ribcage open.
What Kind of Doctor is Dr. Oz Right Now?
Fast forward to today, January 2026, and the answer to "what kind of doctor" he is has shifted from the operating room to the halls of government.
As of April 2025, Dr. Oz took on a massive new role: Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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He was confirmed by the Senate (53-45) to lead the agency that oversees healthcare for over 160 million Americans. So, while he’s still technically a physician, he’s currently a government administrator and a public health official. He’s traded the scalpel for a $1.7 trillion budget.
His Board Certifications and Status
If you’re wondering if he can still legally call himself a doctor, the answer is yes.
- Medical License: He has historically held active medical licenses in states like New York and Pennsylvania.
- Board Certification: He is board-certified in Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery.
- Academic Status: He is a Professor Emeritus at Columbia University, a title usually given to retired professors who kept a high standing at the institution.
The Dual Identity: Surgeon vs. TV Personality
It’s impossible to talk about his credentials without acknowledging the "America's Doctor" elephant in the room. This is where the "what kind of doctor" question gets messy.
On one hand, you have a man who has performed thousands of heart transplants. On the other, you have a TV host who was hauled before a Senate subcommittee in 2014 to answer for promoting "miracle" weight loss products that didn't have much science behind them.
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Critics, including many of his own peers at Columbia, have argued that he used his very real authority as a heart surgeon to give a "halo effect" to unproven alternative medicine. A 2014 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) even looked at his show's recommendations and found that only about 46% were supported by even somewhat believable evidence.
He often defended himself by saying his job on TV wasn't to be a medical journal, but to be a "cheerleader" for people who felt they had no hope. It’s a distinction that has defined his career: the tension between rigid clinical science and the "holistic" or "complementary" medicine he advocates for.
Why It Matters Today
In his current 2026 role at CMS, his background as a cardiothoracic surgeon is being put to a different kind of test. He’s focusing on things like:
- Medicaid Work Requirements: Pushing for states (like Nebraska) to require community engagement for able-bodied adults.
- Combating Fraud: Using his "insider" knowledge of the medical system to cut down on waste.
- Chronic Disease: Trying to shift the focus of government spending from "sick care" to "well care."
Whether you love him or can't stand him, the fact remains that he isn't a "TV doctor" in the sense that he’s an actor. He’s a highly trained, Ivy League-educated heart surgeon who chose a very public, very controversial path.
Actionable Takeaways
If you are looking at Dr. Oz's advice or his current policies at CMS, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Specialty: Remember his expertise is in heart surgery, not nutrition or pharmacology.
- Verify the Source: If you see him endorsing a product or a "hack," look for a second opinion from a specialist in that specific field (like a registered dietitian for weight loss).
- Follow the Policy: As the head of CMS, his decisions now affect your Medicare or Medicaid coverage. Stay updated on CMS.gov for changes to prescription drug pricing or eligibility rules he is implementing this year.
Dr. Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon by training, a celebrity by choice, and a federal administrator by appointment. Understanding that mix is the only way to make sense of the man behind the brand.