What I Learned on The Oprah Show

After five years and 55 episodes, my time as a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show comes to an end this Tuesday, May 12. When I walked onto the stage for this episode, it was the first time in my five years on the show that I had absolutely no idea what awaited me - no show rundown, no script and no pre-interviews. Even though the producers often share even the most minute details when we're doing a show, this time their lips were sealed.

The episode is called "The Best of Dr. Oz," but in all reality, the hour is about people who've found the best in themselves. During the taping, I was moved and flattered by a huge wall full of faces, all of whom reported that their lives were somehow saved by knowledge gained through the show. In fact, these wonderful individuals had altered the course of their own lives because they acted on information that we happened to provide on the "Oprah" show. I have spent a solid chunk of my adult life trying to concoct the "secret sauce" that takes people from knowing basic facts about their health to obtaining a deeper awareness of why this information matters and taking action to improve their well-being. This is the place where motivation lies, deeply hidden in our psyche.

I embarked on this journey when Oprah and her team saw some promise in a series of shows my wife Lisa and I created for the Discovery Health Channel entitled "Second Opinion" in 2003. In fact, Oprah was my first guest on the program. At the time, I was completely consumed with sharing the medical school experience that converts laymen into doctors. After all, if dunking someone in health information makes him/her an expert in school, why wouldn't it work elsewhere? But something happened along the way that convinced me that I had this all wrong.

Like most doctors, the extent of my training in human behavior was somewhat limited. If we felt our patients needed to behave in a particular way - say losing weight - our job was to educate them on the perils of obesity. Our reasoning was simple: once understood, the cold, hard facts would be sufficient incentive for any rational human to change their behavior. And, if that didn't work, we dug our heels in and repackaged the facts to further underscore the urgent need for action. This tactic became affectionately known as a "wake up call."

What most doctors hadn't counted on was that their wake up calls would be blocked by Caller ID. Even when we made a connection, our call was quickly put on a kind of permanent hold. As physicians, our knee-jerk reaction was 'don't they get it?', or 'how can they ignore the facts?'

My wake up call, the one I finally answered, was to realize that information, in the traditional sense, is not the essential prerequisite for action. The processing of information is simply too slow to be useful. A real creature in a real-world environment does not have the luxury of analysis. Instead, we rely on emotion and feelings to guide action. People often form a judgment about something by subconsciously asking "How do I feel about this?"

So, as I turned those Discovery programs into our best-selling "YOU: The Owner's Manual" book series with my writing partner, Cleveland Clinic Foundation's Dr. Michael Roizen, we saw how abstract health information, without an emotional connection, paralyzes many readers. Sour and dire "gloom and doom" information doesn't exactly bring you back begging for more. Rather, actions are only reinforced if they stimulate the dopamine jackpot of the brain. This is what love, drugs and other addictions do so perfectly, so we return for more without urging (and sometimes, despite great risk). So the real question we needed to ask the audience is "How does this information make you feel?" And if 80% of change is emotional, then connecting is more important than informing. Many physicians, including myself, sometimes forget this lesson as we innocently bludgeon doctor-patient relationships.

This is where the Oprah show magic boosted us into the motivational orbit viewers need. We aimed for the transformation trifecta: tell folks what to do for their health (which is what most health advisors and the news does), explain the science so they really understand the advice, and convince them why it should matter to them. For example, we did shows on cigarette addictions and explained that they are bad for you - it's no surprise that didn't turn many heads. Then comes the step where most docs, nurses, and loved ones insult the smoker for not quitting. But this only further diminishes the already low esteem of someone upset with himself for still smoking in the first place. Instead, Oprah offered the insight that we were doing the show because we care about you. And all we want is for you to love yourself as much as we do.

In fact, what I learned most poignantly on the Oprah show was that I did not need to fix everything, especially difficult for a doctor. What many people really crave is to be heard and validated. Then we can disrupt their beliefs as we break their patterns on our way to helping out. Many of the guests knew the path better than me. Their health hardships had cracked them open so they were able to receive inspiration and insights which they kindly shared with us. These wonderful people like Randy Pausch, Michael J. Fox, Montel Williams and hundreds more whose names you would not recognize emphasized that we're judged by how we take care of each other. That's the most important message I will carry into "The Dr. Oz Show" which starts on Monday, September 14. It's the lesson that would make Professor Winfrey proudest as she graduates another student.

Dr. Oz's farewell appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" airs Tuesday. Check your local listings for time and channel.

Comments

[kayatarms]

Thanks to Oprah, you and the show and your website I am smoke free now 14 months after too many decades of smoking! That for even me is still hard to believe! I then convinced 2 others to join me with the same advice and pointed to the show on O's website! That show and your advice woke me up! I thank you for your bedside sincere manners, that did it for me and I am thrilled and healthier!!

[NevaforLeadership]

You are a real life changer.

The best of luck.

Are you planning on giving your partner, Dr. Michael Roizen, some much deserved limelight?

[momof3inGA]

Dr. Roizen is on Dr. Oz's XM Satellite radio show almost daily....I hate to admit this, but while his medical knowledge is vast and deserves the utmost respect -- Roizen's media presentation leaves a lot to be desired.

Sometimes Roizen gets so bogged down with medical facts and terminology that he's difficult to follow. Dr. Oz has a way of bringing medical information to our level in a way that we can embrace and understand.

[OverIt]

As a TV viewer, I never thought this was even possible. . . but I actually LOVE you Dr. Oz! You are a kind, loving healer. A true gift to all of us. I wish you all the very best in your new show.

[ilmhisf16]

Thank you Dr. Oz. I looked forward to your every appearnace on Oprah to see what more I could learn and apply in my life and others around. Your approach is simple and brilliant. My DVR will be in overload come the Fall.

[jcsophie]

I am a health educator and particularly enjoy the information you share with viewers. You are a brilliant doctor and a skilled communicator. I hope that your show continues to educate individuals about their health, but also that it will help to educate physicians on understanding the importance of communicating effectively with their patients. Providing treatment is important to our overall health, but taking the time to make sure that the patient understands is the key to a successful outcome. You get this and are running with it! I look forward to watching your shows in the Fall.

[MarianneEvans11]

Love you Dr. Oz. I enjoyed every show. There should be more doctors with the emphathy and caring you show as well as your through knowedge of your profession. Good Luck to you on your new show..I'll be there watching as always.

[ldelp84227]

I appreciated all the medical info you brought to Oprah's Show. I would have loved to had a chance to meet you as you are from my home town. You seem different than most doctors that don't seem to listen or don't know how to deal with some illnesses. I wrote to you and Oprah many times as did l many others with my illness, but guess we got passed by. I will check out your new show. I follow many of your tips eating oatmeal most days, flaxseed oil, no deodorant except really hot days, and try to be happy and have sex in my life since it adds years to your life. :) See you in September. Unless you are heading to your hometown then look me up. :) Thanks Dr. Oz. Linda

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Wonderful post,, thank you Dr Oz. What you write here is inspiring and insightful to me as someone who seeks the best ways to assist others through their dilemmas and out the other side into greater well-being and peace of mind.

Blessings to you,
Anne

[iluvsam]

Thanks Dr. Oz for all of your hard work and dedication.

[MizK]

Thanks Dr. Oz--we loved your stuff about POOP! lol!

[Misbrown]

Dear Dr Oz,

It has been a pleasure watching and learning from u. You inspire other doctors to step up their game and become better commuicaters with their patients. You inspire those watching to want to take better care of their selves.

Thanks for being open, humble, joyous, informative and a giving. Much luck with the new show!

[Tyrione]

He definitely epitomizes the blend of Science and Homeopathy with Compassion in a sincere manner.

[Wiseronenow]

I do appreciate the two posts here that give factual information disputing the medical claims by Dr. Oz, thyroid disease and Hasselbeck's book on gluten free diet, which Dr. Oz wrote an endorsement for. What I do find interesting is that Oprah chose two doctor's whose backgrounds are more than just questionable or their knowleddge in the fields they practice or have practiced in leaves one with much doubt as to their expertise.

[toocoldout]

Huh? Dr. Oz is one of the best doctors in America. He operated on Bill Clinton. You don't get to operate on a president's heart without being brilliant. Dr. Phil is also extremely competent. He worked as a legal psycholgist in some of the most high profile court cases in America. That's how he met Oprah.

[LarBear]

Wiseronenow...

I suppose you're a believer that the Government and the Multi Billions of $$$$$ Medical/Ph­armaceutic­al and Insurance Industries can and will do "Health" Care! LMAO

If they practiced Health Care, they really would NOT be Multi Billions of Dollars Industries, would they??? When was the last time you saw any of these organizations advocating/ studying "Health" and natural grown organic food as our Health, and Medicine, and Insurance???

Most of us can fool our self most of the time, but it does not make for great health...

http://www.phmiracleliving.com/

In many years of studying the bloods reaction to foods, the (above) site has a whole different Holistic approach to Health and Life... And, before you question, NO I have no connection with the site other than beginning to grasp the concept and make changes for me...

By the way, is Alzheimer's on the increase, or is "mad cow" (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy) actually NOT truly being fully tested for and on the increase, regardless of the Government and Multi Billions of $$$$$ Medical/Ph­armaceutic­al and Insurance Industries you apparently believe in doing our "Health" Care???

[jcsophie]

Bologna.

[genia]

You truly are gifted. You are a great communicator. I have enjoyed readin. watching and learning...good luck to you.
Wish you weren't a flaming republican..but...

[OhComeOnNow]

What he really learned is its all about Oprah.

[ThyroidAdvocate]

Unfortunately, while Dr. Oz means well, and I wish him well on his new show, he has played a role in the lack of accurate information coming from Oprah Winfrey related to thyroid disease.

In particular, I'm surprised that, with Dr. Oz's advice and approval, Oprah went off medical treatment for her own autoimmune hypothyroidism, erroneously claimed she was "cured," and instead touts bioidentical hormone treatment (i.e., estrogen, progesterone) as the proper treatment.

I'm also surprised by Dr. Oz's belief that Oprah's thyroid condition was somehow unique. Oprah struggled with weight gain and fatigue, and saw many doctors before her diagnosis -- but this is common, as are the up and down thyroid fluctuations, fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, and other symptoms. Dr. Oz even described Oprah's thyroid condition as "a frat party" in her thyroid.
http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/01/13/oprah-winfrey-thyroid-not-cured.htm

I hope that on his own show, Dr. Oz will offer more enlightened thyroid information. Because right now, the thyroid legacy Oprah and Dr. Oz are leaving millions of viewers with thyroid disease is that they should refuse medical treatment for thyroid conditions.

Mary Shomon
Patient Advocate, Thyroid Activist
Author: Living Well With Hypothyroidism, Thyroid Diet
http://www.thyroid-info.com

[Ander Chi]

How can you sit there and think that you know more that anyone else. This is the problem with the medical profession. You have to have a clinical model to work from. Each individual is unique and therefore treated as a unique case. The medical profession is failing and I would rather be place in the hands of Dr. Oz, than the care of radiation and drug and surgery to solve all the problems. This is the sentiment of those who are not afraid.