Conquering the O Factor
Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program alumnus Jeffrey Oestreicher spent his lag year producing Dr. Oz’s “Oprah and Friends” show in addition to writing and researching for Dr. Oz’s appearances on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Oestreicher will attend the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in the fall.
Why did you decide to study medicine after completing a degree in political science? What led up to this decision?
I always felt medicine was ultimately where I would end up when I graduated from college. There were, however, a handful of other things I was interested in, and I wasn't ready to commit my life to any one single thing such as medicine.
I loved history and politics, and my first job post-college was researching for a series on the History Channel. My second job was working for a congressman in Washington, D.C. around the time of the 2004 Presidential Campaign. My boss was kind enough to help me get a job on John Kerry's campaign, which was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. When Kerry lost, however, I enjoyed reading about politics more than working in it.
After having had the chance to do a lot of the things I wanted to, I felt ready to go to medical school.
Why did you choose Columbia University's Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program? How has it helped prepare you for what's ahead?
I wanted to live in New York City, and Columbia's Postbac Program had the best reputation in the country. After visiting the campus and speaking with current students, I learned the Postbac Program was the oldest program of its kind and by all accounts prepared you extremely well for med school. A handful of Postbac alumni even told me that the first two years of med school were significantly easier for them than some of their classmates because the second year of biology covers an entire year of biochemistry, which is unique to Columbia.
How did you attain the position working for Dr. Oz?
I received a forwarded email from one of the Postbac advisors advertising a producer position for Dr. Oz. They were looking for a writer with a deep interest in science and medicine. I vividly remember getting the email at 11 p.m. on a Sunday night and writing him a letter that same night explaining how I worked as a writer before starting the Postbac Program and hoped to pursue medicine.
The job appealed to me because it combined writing, which I loved to do, with wellness, medicine and public health; areas I hoped to pursue in the future. Everything happened very quickly. I met him the following Friday, and I was hired the next week.
Describe your role working for Dr. Oz.
I am employed by Harpo, Oprah Winfrey’s production company, and I produce Dr. Oz’s “Oprah and Friends” show in addition to writing and researching for Dr. Oz’s appearances on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”
I read and write a lot; I scour newspapers, medical journals and book reviews looking for people with important and fascinating new ideas and insights into wellness, medicine, science, healing, etc. After deciding on a particular guest, I help Dr. Oz prepare for the show by distilling ideas and insights in ways that make it easier for the audience to incorporate new ideas and practices into their own lives. We love these actionable items, things someone can implement into his or her own life after turning off the show such as a new food, a new approach to thinking about spirituality, an exam they request from their doctor, or a new mind-body practice like tai chi, for example.
What is something interesting about your position people may not realize?
I get at least 10 new medical or science books a week in the mail to review. Additionally, people are always pitching me, some a bit crazier than others. Like the guy who founded a new principle of quantum physics that he claimed could instantly solve the world’s pollution problem.
What was your favorite project you worked on for Dr. Oz?
One of my favorites was about bringing "global medicine" to America, where we searched the world for indigenous healing modalities that might enhance health and prevent illness. The research for these shows was fascinating; I met with Peruvian Shamans, medicinal plant and herb hunters in the Amazon, South African healers, or Sangomas, and traditional Chinese medicine doctors. We searched every corner of the world for secrets.
One of my favorites is Rhodiola rosea, a plant that Siberians have been drinking with vodka for thousands of years. It's kind of a natural energy drink that might also boost immune function and brain function; Siberians say that it enhances sexual function.
Aside from producing the show, to which events did you accompany Dr. Oz?
I loved going to some book-tour stops with him when his last book came out. It was fun to meet some of the Oprah/Oz audience. An older woman approached me at one event to say her husband and two sons refused prostate screenings until all three learned from an Oprah show that prostate cancer is nearly 100 percent survivable if detected early. I don’t know if it was the prostate exam discussion or the image I had of three men watching Oprah together, but for some reason that’s a vivid memory of mine.
Additionally, very frequently you can find an organization honoring Dr. Oz for the work that he’s doing. I've had a lot of fun at these events because they are usually a collection of very interesting people intensely engaged with changing the world in some capacity. Plus, there is usually amazing food.
Is Dr. Oz someone you look-up to? Will you still stay in contact with him while studying at Columbia?
I can't overstate the respect and admiration I have for him as a person, and his mission to empower people around the country to be their best health advocates. I feel very lucky to be a part of it. He has more energy and passion than anyone I've ever met, I mean that very literally. But he's also so kind and decent, someone you just love to be around.
I sincerely hope to stay in touch with him, and I’m excited that we'll be at Columbia together. I think he'll even give some cardiothoracic lectures to my class.
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For more information on Jeffery Oestreicher’s experience as a Postbac student or as a producer for Dr. Oz, please email him at [email protected].
From the GS Alumni Magazine,The Owl
To read The Owl, visit http://www.alumni.gs.columbia.edu/owlnet/Owl_2009.pdf.