The flood gates for professional doctors flexing their medical expertise on TV have been wide open ever since Oprah cosigned Dr. Phil. Since then, psychologists, physicians, pediatricians—you name it have appeared on various talk and news shows attempting to help America get well with their advice. However, the truth is, you haven’t made it as an official celebrity doctor until you get your own show. Enter Dr. Ian Smith and Dr. Drew. They’ve followed Dr. Phil’s path to becoming TV’s most notable doctors but whose advice would you trust more? Let’s take a look as we break it down:
Dr. Ian K. Smith
Bio: Most people were familiar with Dr. Ian Smith by the time he began his stint as the diet expert on Vh1’s Celebrity Fit Club because he had already appeared as a medical correspondent on The View, NBC’s Nightly News, and contributed pieces to the New York Daily News, Health, Essence, Ebony, Cosmopolitan, Time, Newsweek and People magazines. He has also contributed to nationally syndicated radio and authored four books including, The Fat Smash Diet, Dr. Ian Smith’s Guide to Medical Websites, The Take-Control Diet, The 4 Day Diet and The Blackbird Papers.
Education: Dr. Smith graduated from Harvard College with an AB and received a master’s in science education from Columbia University. He attended Dartmouth Medical School and completed the last two years of his medical education and graduated from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Memorable TV Moment: Dr. Ian Smith can some times come across as a know it all. That might sound odd since a doctor who is supposed to know it all or at least a lot when it comes to health, but it didn’t help that he can be smug and condescending. Fit Club contestants weren’t always thrilled with how he came across when he would dispel myths like being “big-boned,” being fat based on genetics or when he chastised them for not following his program properly, but on one fateful day during the taping of Fit Club’s season two, former Top Model contestant Toccara Jones wasn’t having it. She felt that she was being treated unfairly and told Dr. Smith to “kiss her fat a–.” He responded with “Have some class!” Sorry Dr. Smith, but extreme hunger makes people delirious. You snapped at the wrong woman which resulted in “big boned” women everywhere celebrating Toccara’s brazen rant.
Projects: Various TV appearances, magazine contributions and several books. While most of his books are of the medical variety, he transcended the world of RX with his first novel, The Blackbird Papers. By the way, The Fat Smash Diet actually does work.
Likeability: Dr. Ian Smith got props with a younger demographic thanks to his Vh1 affiliation but he still doesn’t come across as personable. Not only is his name stuffy—Dr. Ian K. Smith—but about that know it all thing… Again, it’s great to have a doctor who knows what he’s talking about, but it would be nice to not feel like you’re being judged.
Dr. Drew Pinsky
Bio: Dr. Drew has been the host of nationally syndicated radio show, Loveline, taking calls from listeners since 1983. He is an internist who is board certified in addiction medicine, runs a private practice, and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine. Dr. Drew teamed up with Vh1 for Celebrity Rehab, the first reality TV series to depict the process of overcoming addiction. He has gone on to host Sober House, which chronicles the sober living process, Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and the reunion special for MTV’s hit series, Teen Mom. He is also the author of several books including The Mirror Effect: how Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America, Cracked: Life on the Edge in a Rehab Clinic and When Painkillers Become Dangers: What Everyone Needs to Know About Oxycontin and Other Prescription Drugs.
Education: He received his undergraduate degree from Amherst College and his M.D. from the USC School of Medicine.
Memorable Moment: The first season of Sex Rehab showed that battling sex addiction was just as hard as overcoming drugs as some of the patients were extremely volatile and unpredictable as a result of withdrawal from their vices. Kari Ann Peniche, former Miss Oregon Teen USA and Miss United States Teen proved to be the most difficult patient to treat with several temper tantrums and outbursts directed toward the staff, and by not showing up for group exercises. However, Dr. Drew remained patent, even when faced with the difficult decision of transferring her to another rehab facility where she would get more intense treatment. He not only showed that he wasn’t doing work because cameras were present, but that he really does care. Peniche wasn’t thrilled and spewed a profanity-laced tirade toward doctor Dr. Drew, including calling him a fake doctor. What was even more amusing was the fact that he flexed his experience by predicting her behavior down to the manipulative things she would say in an attempt to get her way, before she actually did it. Dr. Drew also figured out that her erratic behavior on Sex Rehab was because she had a problem with drugs, which had to be treated before the sex addiction and invited her back on the latest season of Celebrity Rehab. Peniche wasn’t the only spazz out that I’ve seen Dr. Drew remain calm throughout and it takes a big person to endure what he does. That amount of patience is what every true medical professional should have but sadly, they don’t. That’s part of why people don’t like going to the doctor but Dr. Drew seems to make the process a lot easier. Plus, people should see the real deal of what going to drug rehab is like, maybe it will keep more people off drugs.
Projects: Books, various TV appearances and best of all, teaching and he still maintains his practice.
Likeability: Dr. Drew is a rock star without even trying. Think about it, his name is simply Dr. Drew. We’re already on a one name basis with him like Madonna, Cher or Shakira. OK, maybe that’s pushing it, but the fact that he goes by Dr. Drew makes him a lot less smug than most docs. And back to that patience thing, even though he’s an addiction specialist, he’s laid back, knows his ish and shows compassion while remaining firm. I wish I encountered doctors as cool as him. Dr. Drew seems like he can talk a PETA member into wearing fur. The day anyone sees him yell is the day politicians tell the truth. That’s why we love him so much.
Conclusion: I’d pick Dr. Drew as the winner because he seems more relatable, like I mentioned, but wouldn’t be cool if they did a collabo? Food is a drug so maybe Vh1 could create a new addiction show for morbidly obese people who severely need to change their relationship with food beyond the vanity of Celebrity Fit Club. Dr. Drew and Dr. Ian Smith would be perfect because they’d balance each other out.
What are your thoughts?
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