2009 Leaders-to-Leaders Summit

Dr. Oz Named 2009 L2L Keynote Speaker

One of this year's keynote speakers is Mehmet Oz, MD, a noted American cardiac surgeon and award-winning author, who gained notoriety for his frequent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. His topic will focus on improving health for all people.

Oz is vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and healthcare policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters and medical books and has received several patents. He performs 250 heart operations annually.

Oz received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University (1982) and obtained a joint MD and MBA (1986) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton Business School.

Oz is the health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He is chief medical consultant to Discovery Communications and his Transplant! series won both a Freddie and a Silver Telly award. In addition to numerous appearances on Good Morning America, he has guest hosted the Charlie Rose Show and appeared on all the evening news broadcasts. He also served as medical director of Denzel Washington's John Q and participated in several other feature films. In September 2009, he will host the syndicated talk show, "The Dr. Oz Show," produced by Harpo.

Oz authored five New York Times Best Sellers including You: The Owner's Manual, You: The Smart Patient, YOU: On a Diet, and YOU: Staying Young, as well as the award-winning Healing from the Heart. He has a regular column in Esquire magazine.

In addition to belonging to every major professional society for heart surgeons, Oz has been honored as Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People (08), a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum (99-04), and "The Harvard 100 Most Influential Alumni" in the 02138 magazine, as well as receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (08).

Oz won the prestigious Gross Surgical Research Scholarship, and has received an honorary doctorate from Istanbul University. He was voted "The Best and Brightest" by Esquire magazine, a "Doctor of the Year" by Hippocrates magazine and "Healer of the Millennium" by Healthy Living magazine. He is annually elected as a highest quality physician by the Castle Connolly Guide as well as other major ranking groups.