Julian Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Julian M. Whitaker, M.D. (born August 7, 1944) is a practitioner of alternative medicine
who promotes vitamin cures and other alternative therapies through the Internet
, self-published newsletters, and books. He operates the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach
, California
. He has a California "Physician and Surgeon" license, which was originally issued on November 17, 1972. He is a member of the American College for Advancement in Medicine
. He is past president of the American Preventive Medical Association, now called The Alliance for Natural Health USA, which "is part of an international organization dedicated to promoting sustainable health and freedom of choice in healthcare through good science and good law".
in 1966 and earned his M.D.
from Emory University School of Medicine
in 1970, completing a surgical internship at Atlanta
's Grady Memorial Hospital
in 1971. He did postgraduate training at Emory University
and began but did not complete a residency in orthopedic surgery
at the University of California San Francisco.
He is board certified
in "anti-aging medicine" by the American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, an educational and certification program of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
(A4M).
Whitaker opposes the use of pharmaceuticals
in the treatment of mental illness
and believes that psychiatry is fraudulent. In a CNN
interview with Anderson Cooper
, Whitaker states that psychiatric diagnoses have "no basis" and are fabricated or voted into existence by powerful groups of doctors with financial interests. The combination of medication and talk therapy endorsed by psychiatry is a "script", says Whitaker, who claims in the interview that his golden retriever can provide talk therapy just as well as a psychiatrist. According to Whitaker, vitamins, such as those promoted on his website, can cure psychiatric disorders by improving general health.
The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) criticises Whitaker for promoting himself as "America's #1 health advocate," "America's #1 health champion," and "the physician America trusts." According to the NCAHF, Whitaker advocates potentially dangerous therapies involving growth hormones, chelation and megavitamins, and intervenes on behalf of other "maverick" doctors in legal trouble.
The Los Angeles Times notes that Whitaker serves as a consultant to vitamin companies advertised on his website, a practice criticised by other doctors who prefer to promote only evidence-based products. In the article, Whitaker is classified as a doctor "mixing celebrity and cyberspace".
Whitaker claims to be a leading expert in "anti-aging medicine".
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
who promotes vitamin cures and other alternative therapies through the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, self-published newsletters, and books. He operates the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He has a California "Physician and Surgeon" license, which was originally issued on November 17, 1972. He is a member of the American College for Advancement in Medicine
American College for Advancement in Medicine
The American College for Advancement in Medicine is a membership-based association of alternative medicine physicians based in Irvine, California. ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians...
. He is past president of the American Preventive Medical Association, now called The Alliance for Natural Health USA, which "is part of an international organization dedicated to promoting sustainable health and freedom of choice in healthcare through good science and good law".
Education and certification
Whitaker graduated from Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1966 and earned his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine, a component of Emory’s Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center, is ranked among the nation’s institutions for biomedical education and research...
in 1970, completing a surgical internship at Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
's Grady Memorial Hospital
Grady Memorial Hospital
Grady Memorial Hospital, frequently referred to as Grady Hospital or simply Grady, is the largest hospital in the state of Georgia and the public hospital for the city of Atlanta. It is the 5th largest public hospital in the United States, as well as one the busiest Level I trauma centers in the...
in 1971. He did postgraduate training at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
and began but did not complete a residency in orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
at the University of California San Francisco.
He is board certified
Board certified
Board certification may refer to:* Board certification, for physicians in an area of medical specialization.* Nursing board certification, for nurses who obtain additional specialty training....
in "anti-aging medicine" by the American Board of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, an educational and certification program of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine is a United States registered 501 nonprofit organization that promotes the field of anti-aging medicine and trains and certifies physicians in this specialty. As of 2011, approximately 26,000 practitioners had been given certificates...
(A4M).
Activities and medical philosophy
Whitaker suggests, in his subscription-based newsletter called Health and Healing and in numerous books, that a combination of vitamin therapy and exercise can prevent or cure many ailments. As the director and founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, California, Whitaker states that since 1991, his subscription-based newsletter has achieved a circulation of more than 2.5 million readers. He is a co-founder of the California Orthomolecular Medical Society.Whitaker opposes the use of pharmaceuticals
Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior...
in the treatment of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
and believes that psychiatry is fraudulent. In a CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
interview with Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
, Whitaker states that psychiatric diagnoses have "no basis" and are fabricated or voted into existence by powerful groups of doctors with financial interests. The combination of medication and talk therapy endorsed by psychiatry is a "script", says Whitaker, who claims in the interview that his golden retriever can provide talk therapy just as well as a psychiatrist. According to Whitaker, vitamins, such as those promoted on his website, can cure psychiatric disorders by improving general health.
Criticism
Whitaker has been a controversial figure, and has been criticized for his self-promotional approach to medicine, potential conflicts of interest, and his embrace of scientifically unsound practices.The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) criticises Whitaker for promoting himself as "America's #1 health advocate," "America's #1 health champion," and "the physician America trusts." According to the NCAHF, Whitaker advocates potentially dangerous therapies involving growth hormones, chelation and megavitamins, and intervenes on behalf of other "maverick" doctors in legal trouble.
The Los Angeles Times notes that Whitaker serves as a consultant to vitamin companies advertised on his website, a practice criticised by other doctors who prefer to promote only evidence-based products. In the article, Whitaker is classified as a doctor "mixing celebrity and cyberspace".
Whitaker claims to be a leading expert in "anti-aging medicine".