Tell Me the Truth, Doctor

Guest Bio: Richard Besser, MD

Richard Besser, MD, ABC News's Chief Health and Medical Editor, provides medical analysis and commentary for all ABC News broadcasts and platforms, including World News with Diane Sawyer, Good Morning America, and Nightline, as well as many other news/entertainment programs. Since joining ABC News in 2009, Dr. Besser has been at the forefront of news coverage for every major medical story, including the earthquake in Haiti and the Japanese radiation release. He was the leading correspondent on ABC's global health series, Be the Change, Save a Life, and received a 2011 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Investigative Journalism for his World News story on cord blood banking.  Besser came to ABC News from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he worked forthirteen years, including as acting director, during which time he led the CDC's response to the H1N1influenza outbreak. He has taught and trained doctors at the University of California at San Diego and is a visiting fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. Most important, for more than 25 years, Dr. Besser has practiced medicine, giving his patients and their families straightforward, common sense advice.