Dr. Gott combines the empathy of an old-fashioned family doctor with the outspoken fervor of a patients’ rights advocate in his medical column. He responds to readers’ medical questions with sensitivity and accuracy and has been reported to accuse physicians of flaunting their wealth with expensive, showy automobiles, needlessly keeping patients waiting and being more interested in their golf scores and investments than in their patients’ problems. Perhaps that is the reason he is known as America’s most popular medical columnist. He simply isn’t afraid to speak out in defense of a patient when health care issues are being ignored.
His daily column was syndicated from 1984 to September 2011 when he was replaced as a result of changes within the syndicate; however, he writes six days a week on his website and for several newspapers, as well. He continues to receive reader mail, both letters and e-mail and has been applauded for his sincere, truthful, straightforward answers presented in simple-to-understand language.
Dr. Gott is a graduate of Princeton University and Tulane Medical School. He interned at Mt. Sinai Hospital, with residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York. He is Past President of his local county medical association and remains a member of that organization. He is a member of his state medical society, former Chief of Staff of his local hospital, sits on their Ethics Committee, and is affiliated with several hospice boards.
His publications have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, Archives of Internal Medicine, Patient Care, Modern Medicine, Saturday Review, USA Today, and Working Mother. He has published five books: No House Calls, Summer Windows of ‘Sconset, Live Longer, Live Better, Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet, and Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook.
Dr. Gott retired as a general internist July 1, 2006, exactly 40 years from the date he began. During that period, he maintained an active solo practice, was medical director of two local private schools, saw patients at three local nursing homes, was on call for himself and several colleagues every third day and most holidays, made house calls, and wrote a syndicated medical column. He continues to write and currently has a book of poetry and several novels in the works.
