Duke University Hospital neurosurgeon Oren Gottfried was recently featured in the News Observer for his work as a medical advisor for television shows.
According to the report, Dr. Gottfried advises on several shows, including USA's "Royal Pains" and CBS's "Elementary." He also has a hand in developing medical stories, script editing, props, makeup and sets to make sure they appear more realistic. Here are five things to know about Dr. Gottfried:
1. He performs complex spine surgery in his role at Duke University, and patients always come first. He's also involved in medical research and publishes in professional journals to help advance the field. His research interests include radiological outcomes after spinal fusion with a prospective database and preventing spinal deformities, infections and complications
2. He started working for television in 2010 for a failed TV show pilot, but the connection led to other consulting opportunities. He'll be working on a new television show for USA in the near future.
3. Dr. Gottfried is often not paid for his consulting work on television shows. He goes on location about once per year to provide expertise. A good consultant is able to understand what will "play well" on television from a visual and storytelling angle, according to the report, in addition to answering medical questions.
4. In the future, he hopes to contribute more to the writing part of the process. His wife, a gastroenterologist, has also contributed expertise to television shows. But he wants to maintain his practice as well. Dr. Gottfried's clinical interests include spinal oncology, spinal trauma and deformities.
5. In addition to his clinical practice and television advising, he has had a relationship with spine device companies Lanx and Pioneer Surgical. Dr. Gottfried earned his medical degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in 2001 and completed his fellowship in spinal deformity at the University of Utah School of Medicine in 2008.
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