The Checkup with Doctor Mike

Confronting CNN's Doctor | Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Oct 26, 2025
Guest
Sanjay Gupta
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a board-certified neurosurgeon and CNN's chief medical correspondent, dives deep into the intersection of medicine and media. He shares his journey into health journalism, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, balancing transparency and public trust. Gupta discusses chronic pain, revealing the gaps in treatment and the opioid crisis's impact. He emphasizes nonpharmacologic approaches and the promising insights from new gene discoveries. Lastly, he reflects on the challenges of combating misinformation in today's media landscape.
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INSIGHT

Practice Informs Media Credibility

  • Sanjay Gupta balanced clinical practice and journalism to preserve evidence-based reporting.
  • He credits ongoing patient care for sharpening his ability to evaluate studies and communicate nuance.
ANECDOTE

Career Launched By 9/11 Coverage

  • Gupta began media work at CNN in August 2001 and shifted to breaking news after 9/11.
  • Covering global events launched his long career blending medicine and journalism.
INSIGHT

Pandemic Revealed Communication Trade-Offs

  • The pandemic exposed how quickly experts disagree under uncertainty and highlighted communication trade-offs.
  • Gupta says leaders had to balance population risk mitigation with acknowledging unknowns, and natural immunity was underappreciated.
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