FEATURE // DR. OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ Try and find someone who hasn’t heard ofDR. MEHMET OZ. It won’t happen. Dubbed “America’s Doctor” by Oprah herself, the country’s most trusted physician – turned TV host, turned author, turned magazine editor – averages 2.7 million pairs of eyes on each episode of his show.

But there is more to this multitasking master. He is also a dad, a husband and a new grandfather. During a recent visit to South Florida, he shared with us his thoughts on living the good life.

BY JENNIFER TORMO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON NUTTLE

94 MAY/JUNE 2014 gulfstreammediagroup.com gulfstreammediagroup.com MAY/JUNE 2014 95 FEATURE // DR. OZ Top Oz answers fans’ health questions during a Q&A session.

Bottom Oz and his wife, Lisa, sign autographs for fans.

ell South Floridians Dr. Oz is speaking at their shopping mall and they will come. More than 8,000 of them fill the first and Tsecond floor of The Gardens Mall, spilling around the barricaded seating area, over the bal- cony and stair railings, hopeful for a glimpse at America’s most trusted doctor. By 10 a.m., as the first speakers of the health festival are about to take the stage, an older woman confronts the guard blocking the en- trance to the seated area by the stage. She wants to know why she can’t go in and sit closer to the stage where Oz will appear. r. Oz is going to live forever. Lisa doesn’t usually come to these things, he confides. But While the event was free, he explains stern- It’s not because he eats Greek today is a special occasion – the couple is about to present their ly that people began lining up before 6 a.m. to yogurt with berries and nuts for latest collaboration: The Good Life, a bimonthly health magazine claim their seats. They’re taken. It is clear by his breakfast, or because he does a published by Hearst Magazines, which features Lisa on the mast- tone it’s not the first time he’s had to explain this seven-minute, yoga-based workout head as editor-at-large. today. It probably won’t be the last, either. every morning. It’s not because he The first time Lisa met Oz, she thought he was a waiter. At 11:30 a.m., it’s Oz’s turn to take the never takes elevators, or because he Introduced by their fathers at a dinner party, Oz offered to stage for one of two presentations of the day. always gets a minimum of seven and a take Lisa’s coat for her. “I thought, ‘this waiter’s so handsome,’” The crowd counts down to his entrance. “5 … half hours of sleep. It’s not because he is in she says. 4 … 3 … 2 … 1.” a healthy marriage. Waiter or not, Lisa, who is three years younger than Oz, says Heeere’s Oz. With a roar as loud as crowds No, he is going to live forever because he appeared on “The it was “all over” in that moment. She saw him and was immedi- at a SunFest headlining show, the audience cheers. Oprah Winfrey Show” 55 times. Because Time magazine named ately smitten – not unlike much of America. “Oh, I love coming here,” Oz says, beam- Dhim one of the “100 Most Influential People.” Because nearly 3 Lisa’s father, Dr. Gerald Lemole, was a surgeon who was part ing up at the crowds of people hovering over the million people tune in to each of the approximately 175 of the team that performed the firstsuccessful heart trans- edge of the upstairs balcony. episodes of “The Dr. Oz Show” a season. plant in America in the ’60s. She had met her match A PowerPoint-esque presentation fills the Oz is going to live forever, because even after in Oz. Not at all a waiter, he would go on to massive screen behind him, and he begins flip- he is physically gone, he will live on – on cam- become a heart surgeon, too. ping through slides. Just like an episode of his era, and in the people who watch his show, The first time Less than a year later, they got en- show, the slides are full of good information, and read his new magazine and look to him Lisa met Oz, she thought gaged. Oz was 23. Oz is frank as always. The audience learns that for advice on how to live healthier lives. Now married 29 years and with breakfast is crucial to a healthy diet but that Pop- As someone who spends every he was a waiter. four kids, Lisa and Oz are more than Tarts never count, that they should never drink day educating the public on how to just partners in parenthood. They are skim milk, and that most Americans will get can- live longer, Oz has pulled the ultimate Introduced by their fathers at a business partners in just about every cer at some point in their lives and survive it. “gotcha” on the entire system – he has major endeavor. They co-write books, The audience drinks in every word because it’s Oz speaking. been in Palm Beach for more than 80 years, and Oz has been visit- made himself into someone who can dinner party, Oz offered to take and often co-host Oz’s TV show and He is just as engaging here as he is on TV. Dressed in a black suit, ing the island since he was 23. never truly die. Lisa’s coat for her. “I thought, radio show. pale pink shirt and purple printed tie, he paces the stage. He waves This year, the couple has already traveled from their New Jer- While Dr. Oz takes care of the rest his hands to punctuate important points and breaks up the slides sey home to Palm Beach four times, in part to visit Lisa’s family and z is in an extra good mood today. ‘this waiter’s so handsome,’” of the country, Lisa takes care of him. Oz with video clips from his show – including one of himself learning in part because they love the area. Before today’s show, Oz went Not only is he about to speak be- gives Lisa the credit for encouraging him to to rap – and tidbits about his own dietary habits (he loves nuts, running on a bike path on the island. And the health-conscious fore a crowd of South Floridians at the she says. step out of the operating room and in front of spicy foods and green tea, FYI). pair can’t get enough of the downtown West Palm farmers market. WPBF 25 Health & Wellness Festival 2014 the camera to go on “Oprah” and later start his He has the energy and stage presence of a politician and South Florida is a community that cares about health, Lisa O the likability of a superhero. Hands fly into the air as Oz throws says, and her husband adds that the questions he gets during the at The Gardens Mall, but his wife, Lisa, will be joining own show. She is also the one who got him interested him onstage this year. in alternatives to medicine. pairs of his signature purple gloves out to the crowd. The audi- Health & Wellness Festival each year allow him to harvest new He can’t stop talking about Lisa. In a private hospitality suite “She does all the heavy lifting,” he summarizes. ence is pumped. ideas for his daytime show. The pair has an appreciation for teach- on the mall’s second floor, he grins at a small crowd of fans. She He gives her so much credit you almost wonder – if Oz had Oz has a strong relationship with WPBF 25, and that’s part of ing people how to live the good life, and it is clear looking around comes up in every conversation he has with them, in between ad- never met Lisa, would he still be the superstar he is today? what brings him to this festival for the second year in a row. But at the crowd of Oz’s health-conscious fans today that South Florid- vice about dietary supplements and medical ailments. he also just has a connection with South Florida. Lisa’s family has ians already know how to.

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So Oz found his direction: he’d be a surgeon. Most n his spare time, Oz 7-year-olds fear going to the doctor and getting shots, TIMELINE: performs more than but Oz’s father was a surgeon at Wilmington Medical DR. OZ’S RISE TO FAME 100 heart surgeries Center, so he grew up around hospitals. Ia year. He directs the “A doctor comes in and puts needles in you,” Oz Cardiovascular Institute says. “But I would see my dad go into the room and see and Complementary people smiling – he would give them hope.” 1982 Received his undergraduate Medicine Program at Once Oz made his decision to pursue the medical degree from Harvard University NewYork-Presbyterian field, he never wavered, and he always held himself to 1985 Married Lisa Hospital. But if given a high standards. Harvard came first, where he earned choice between working his undergraduate degree. Then he moved on to Uni- 1986 Obtained a joint M.D. and in the OR full time and versity of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, where he MBA from the University of working in TV and me- was student body president. As if med school wasn’t Lisa Oz joins her husband on stage to talk about their new magazine The Good Life. Pennsylvania dia, he would probably Oz addresses a crowd of more than 8,000 at The Gardens Mall. enough of a challenge, he decided to earn an MBA at choose TV. After all, it’s The Wharton School at the same time. 1994 Established the Cardiovascular not possible to reach a And then the moment he’d been waiting for since The show freed Oz to talk about poop as often he wanted Institute and Integrative Medicine few million people every day in a hospital he was 7 finally happened: he performed his first surgery. – and in 2010 he even documented his own colonoscopy on his Program at NewYork-Presbyterian “One of the things I remember most Hospital like he can on TV. about him is how engaging he is with pa- “Oh, I remember it vividly. There was a young man who needed show. He puts a lot of weight on the power and tients,” Gleiber says. “Before he was a ce- heart surgery. I was petrified,” he says. “His heart was like a serpent More than 800 episodes later, the rest is history. 1996 Assisted in the high-profile trust his viewers give him when they tune into lebrity he was just simply a great doctor, a waiting to strike me.” heart transplant of Frank Torre his show. “I’m actually a guest in your home, great surgeon. Talented.” But once Oz reached out, put his hand on the man’s heart z says your happiest year is when you’re 50 – it’s when you in your most private place,” he says. In addition to Oz’s rapport with and caressed it, his nerves calmed and allowed him to perform a settle into yourself and stop worrying as much. 1996 Named Turkish American of And so Oz creates a relationship with patients, Gleiber mentions that Oz was successful surgery. The moment taught him that surgery could be He turns 54 in June, and today, sitting on a couch before the Year his viewers that many doctors will never (and still is) a well-respected clinical chaotic or it could be controlled – it all depended on perspective. Oa crowd of fans at The Gardens Mall, he couldn’t be happier. have with patients whom they see once a scientist who has done a tremendous “It was the first time someone trusted me with [their] life,” he says. Lisa joins him onstage to present The Good Life magazine. 1998 Co-authored his first book, year for 15 minutes. It would not be the last. She wears a flowy top and pants in a shade of dark blue that al- Healing from the Heart: A Lead- amount of research to improve the field of ing Surgeon Combines Eastern and “I always joke Marcus Welby is cardiac surgery. He has impacted several At age 36, Oz assisted in a heart-transplant surgery on Frank most matches the color of her green-blue eyes, paired with classic, Western Traditions to Create the dead,” he says, referencing a kind doctor surgical generations. Torre, the brother of then-Yankees Manager Joe Torre. The high- nude Christian Louboutins and a long, gold pendant necklace. Medicine of the Future, with his wife who was the main character of a medical Maybe even more importantly, Glei- profile operation gave him his first taste of fame. Afterward, he ap- Her serene beauty balances the boyish charm Oz emits when drama from the ’70s. “The show works ber adds, “He’s been responsible for train- peared as a medical expert on major networks like CNN and ABC. she’s around. Like a fifth grader hoping to impress a crush, he can’t 2002 Served as medical consultant because that’s a problem.” ing hundreds of surgeons, and I think you In 2003, he and Lisa teamed up to produce Oz’s first show, stop making jokes. Sometimes Lisa laughs; sometimes she snaps on set of “John Q” But unlike many stars on TV, Oz is would be hard-pressed to find one of “Second Opinion with Dr. Oz.” The first guest they invited on the back with her own joke. not an actor. The do-good persona he them who would utter a negative word show was none other than Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey enjoyed the When the topic of acne comes up, for instance, Oz tells the 2003 His first show, “Second Opin- wears onscreen does not seem to have an about the man.” experience so much that the following year, she invited Oz to ap- audience that Lisa loves popping his pimples for him. She gives ion with Dr. Oz,” aired in its only on-off switch. Sure, he mingles with ce- pear on her own show. him a look. “You haven’t had a pimple in season lebrities, interviewing First Lady Michelle z was 7 when he declared that he Oz walked onto the “Oprah” set 30 years.” HIS RIGHT-HAND WOMAN 2004 First appeared on “Oprah” Obama and getting Paula Deen to open up wanted to be a surgeon. At an age with a suitcase of organs. He sliced them After nearly 30 years of marriage, it’s about her cigarette smoking on his show. when most children are daydream- open and showed the audience the differ- A look at Lisa Oz clear their relationship just works. And in 2008 Named one of Time maga- But he also includes the everyman, Oing about being superheroes and ence between an organ that was healthy • Writer, producer and entrepreneur February, they embarked on a new jour- zine’s “100 Most Influential People” the everywoman. The overweight man princesses, he was already thinking about and one that was not. • Host of the “Lisa Oz Show” on Oprah ney together: they became grandparents. who has been told he will die if he doesn’t organs and incisions. Winfrey was captivated, and so was Radio on SiriusXM and Veria Living After talking about Lisa, gushing about 2009 “The Dr. Oz Show” debuted lose weight. An audience member who Oz was getting ice cream with his her audience. So she invited him to appear • Author of The New York Times best- his new granddaughter, Philomena, is Oz’s uses her boyfriend’s razor to shave and father at Peterson’s ice cream shop in again. And again. And again. Oz would seller US: Transforming Ourselves and second favorite topic of the day. 2010 Won his first Daytime Emmy wants to know if that’s OK. Even a group Wilmington, Del. – the town he grew up appear on “Oprah” a total of 55 times. the Relationships that Matter Most As he ends his presentation, he paus- for Outstanding Talk Show Host • Co-author of fiveThe New York Times of children who survived the Sandy Hook in – when Dr. Mustafa Oz asked the boy “When he made it OK to talk about es for a moment to reflect on his latest best-selling books, including the YOU: Elementary School massacre appeared on in line in front of them what he wanted to the shape of a good poop, I knew he visit, beaming at the crowd. “The real rea- 2011 “The Dr. Oz Show” won first The Owner’s Manual series could talk about anything,” Winfrey told son we come to the Palm Beaches is the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding his show with their families just three days be when he grew up. “I don’t know,” the • Editor-at-large of the new Hearst Informative Talk Show after the tragedy. He looks at each indi- boy replied. “I’m 10.” The New York Times years later. magazine, The Good Life people,” he says. vidual who appears on his show with the Later, Mustafa would tell his son that Winfrey wasn’t the only one • Helped found HealthCorps, a non- Before exiting, he leans over the 2014 Launched his new magazine, same empathetic eyes and listening ears. he never wanted to hear him answer “I charmed by Oz. In 2008, Time maga- profit delivering a progressive health stage to sign autographs for a crowd of The Good Life He’s always been this way. Dr. don’t know” to that question. Even if he zine named him one of its “100 Most curriculum to 32,000+ teens in at-risk fans that has rushed the stage. “Blow me Michael Gleiber, a local spinal surgeon, changed his mind over and over, he should Influential People.” In 2009, the time was communities a kiss,” an older woman shouts. worked under Oz as a general surgery in- always have some direction for what he right to launch “The Dr. Oz Show,” co- For more on Lisa, visit LisaOz.com. He does, of course. Oz is never one to tern at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. wanted to be. produced by Winfrey’s team. disappoint a fan.

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