PERSON: Sanjay Gupta

Neurosurgeon

Sanjay Gupta (born October 23, 1969) is an American neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

A media personality on health-related issues, he is best known as CNN’s multiple Emmy award winning chief medical correspondent, hosting the network’s weekend health program “Sanjay Gupta, M.D.,” and making frequent appearances on their “American Morning,” “Larry King Live,” and “Anderson Cooper 360°” programs. His reports from Charity Hospital, New Orleans, La., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina led to him winning a 2006 Emmy Award for “Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast.” Additionally, Gupta publishes a column in “Time” magazine and is a special correspondent for CBS News. His books “Chasing Life” and “Cheating Death” were New York Times and national bestsellers. His latest book, “Monday Mornings,” a novel, was released in March 2012 and became an instant New York Times bestseller. It is currently being adapted as a television show with David E. Kelley and Gupta serving as executive producers.

From 1997 to 1998, he served as one of fifteen White House Fellows, primarily as an advisor to Hillary Clinton. In January 2009, it was reported that Gupta was offered the position of surgeon general of the United States in the Obama administration, but he withdrew his name from consideration. In January 2011, he was named “one of the 10 most influential celebrities” by Forbes magazine.

— Wikipedia