Dr. Sanjay Gupta is chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit at CNN. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurosurgery, plays an integral role in the network's medical coverage, which includes daily packages, the half-hour weekend show House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and coverage of breaking medical news. Based in Atlanta, he also co-hosts Accent Health for Turner Private Networks, provides medical segments for the syndicated version of ER on TNT, contributes health news stories to CNN.com and American Morning, writes a column for TIME magazine and recently launched a weekly podcast called "Paging Dr. Gupta."
Gupta joined CNN in the summer of 2001 and became part of the network team covering the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City. Breaking news about anthrax and its deadly effects highlighted Gupta's coverage.
In 2003, Gupta spent time in Iraq and Kuwait, reporting on various medical aspects of escalating tension with Iraq. During the war in Iraq, Gupta reported as an embedded correspondent with the U.S. Navy’s medical unit, the "Devil Docs." He provided viewers with exclusive reports from points along the unit's travel to Baghdad and provided live coverage from a desert operating room of the first operation performed during the war. Gupta also performed brain surgery five times. Additionally, Gupta's coverage appeared in a one-hour CNN Presents documentary, and he will serve as executive producer on an upcoming TNT original movie in development about the unit.
Besides his battlefield medicine coverage, Gupta also reported from Kuwait immediately after a low-flying missile hit a Kuwaiti shopping mall.
In 2004, he traveled to the international AIDS conference in Bangkok, Thailand, where he reported on the pandemic for CNN/U.S., CNN International and Headline News. In December 2004, Gupta was sent to Sri Lanka to cover the disaster and aftermath of the tsunami that took more than 155,000 lives in South Asia. That coverage contributed to the awarding of an Alfred I. duPont Award to CNN.
The following year, Gupta contributed to CNN's Peabody-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. As part of his reports, Gupta debunked official reports that New Orleans' Charity Hospital had been completely evacuated, revealing that more than 200 patients remained there for five days after the hurricane made landfall.
He also introduced "New You Resolution," the first installment of prime-time, health-related specials Gupta produces for the network. "New You Resolution" challenges everyday people to kick their unhealthy habits, whether it's losing weight, exercising or stop smoking. Gupta's passion for improving America's health also inspired him to launch "Fit Nation," CNN's first ongoing, multi-platform, grass roots initiative against obesity. After a nationwide tour, "Fit Nation," culminated in a one-hour special on CNN. Other specials have included "Quake Zone," "Killer Flu" and "Sleep," which addressed concerns about surviving the Pakistani earthquake, avian flu and the dangers of a lack of sleep, respectively.
In addition to his work for CNN, Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the department of neurosurgery at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and performs surgery weekly at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery.
Before joining CNN, Gupta was a neurosurgeon at the University of Tennessee's Semmes-Murphy clinic, and before that, the University of Michigan Medical Center. He became partner of the Great Lakes Brain and Spine Institute in 2000 and in 1997, he was chosen as a White House Fellow — one of only 15 fellows appointed. He served as special advisor to the first lady.
Gupta has been published in a variety of scientific journals and has received numerous accolades. His health reports swept all three health and medical awards in 2006 – the first year the National Headliner Awards honored such journalism in a dedicated category. Also in 2006, his report, "Sabrina’s Law," earned him his first Clarion award, and "Charity Hospital," his first Emmy.
In 2003, he was named one of PEOPLE magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" and a "pop culture icon" by USA Today. In 2004, the Atlanta Press Club named him "Journalist of the Year." He has won the Humanitarian Award from the National Press Photographers Association, a GOLD Award from the National Health Care Communicators and a finalist honor for the International Health and Medical Media award known as the "Freddie." His first book, Chasing Life, was released in the spring of 2007 and became a national bestseller.
A board-certified neurosurgeon, Gupta is a member of several organizations, including the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Do Something Foundation, Healing the Children Foundation, the Council of Foreign Relations and the Brain Foundation. He serves as a diplomat of the American Board of Neurosurgery and is a certified medical investigator.
Gupta received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate of medicine from the University of Michigan Medical Center.
|
 |
|
