“I’m grateful all the docs showed up, it’s amazing, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, they’re all here. So if something happens, you’re going to be very well taken care of, and the whole world is going to know about it.”
Last night, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta threw a party in midtown Manhattan for the release of his new book, “Cheating Death.”
Pictured above, you can see Fox News’ Dr. Manny Alvarez, NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Dr. Mehmet Oz of “Oprah” fame, ABC News’ Dr. Richard Besser, and Deepak Chopra.
The CNNers were out in full-force, with morning show hosts John Roberts, Kiran Chetry, and HLN’s Robin Meade, who was in town from Atlanta, among the guests. Larry King also stopped in, as did Soledad O’Brien and T.J. Holmes.
CNN/US President Jon Klein told the crowd that the turnout was attributable to Gupta’s reputation as both a good reporter and a good colleague. Klein said Gupta, who travels the world for CNN and still practices medicine every week, had taken the time recently to help him find a surgeon for his father.
Gupta’s “Cheating Death” recently made the WSJ list of best health books of 2009 (along with ABC News contributor Marie Savard’s “Ask Dr. Marie”), and Gupta said he was inspired by the larger role he thinks medical reporting can play.
“There are instances where I think media can help lead medicine,” he told the crowd. “But when we talk about reporting on things around the world, we typically think of that as news. In certain instances it can it can actually lead the charge.”
TVNewser caught up with Gupta at the party to ask him about his new book, the politicization of medical reporting, and his decision to pass up the surgeon general job. We also used to opportunity to solicit some free medical advice.