Celebrities Who Went to Medical School. Many celebrities come from surprising backgrounds; some even started their careers in medical school before gaining the spotlight. Despite beginning in the medical domain, this unconventional path has spawned celebrities who have achieved success in a number of industries, including writing, sports, and entertainment. These celebrities have been impacted by medical training, which emphasizes discipline, sensitivity, and critical thinking.
This has strengthened their vocation and enabled them to prosper in unforeseen ways. From Deepak Chopra’s international impact on holistic health to Ken Jeong’s humorous performances based on their actual medical experience, each of these people brings a distinct viewpoint informed by their medical background. These tales are motivational reminders that although medical school is often a method of becoming a doctor, its knowledge and abilities are adaptable to a wide range of professions and frequently lead to intriguing and substantial career alternatives outside of medicine.
Read Also: Managing Finances for Visa Applications
10 Celebrities Who Went to Medical School
1. Lisa Kudrow, Vassar College
One of the celebrities who went to medical school is an American actress, writer, and comedian who is most famous for playing Phoebe in the highly popular sitcom Friends, which lasted from 1994 to 2004. Given that Lisa Kudrow is well-known due to her roles in Cheers, you might be forgiven for typecasting her as the comical monarch of the big and small screen. The Simpsons, and even popular Hollywood movies like Easy A (2010) and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997). Therefore, it may come as a surprise that Kudrow had a slightly different job path previous to her acting break.
She went on to receive a degree in psychobiology from Vassar College, a tiny liberal arts college in the state of New York, after completing high school. Her parents ran a travel agency and a doctor. Kudrow returned to Los Angeles after college to work with her father and pursue a career in research. This was not to be, though, and she was soon pushed to seek a career in show business by a family friend. Kudrow’s career took off after she joined an improv theater group and rapidly became friends with Conan O’Brien.
2. Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
Ernesto “Che” Guevara is a well-known Argentine revolutionary, but were you aware that his among the celebrities who went to medical school which had a big impact on his life? The young Guevara, who was born into a liberal family in Argentina in the 1920s, was a skilled athlete in numerous sports but battled chronic asthma, which would return throughout his life. Ernesto started school a year later than ordinary kids because Guevara’s family migrated to a drier place after it became clear that their little son’s health would not be well supported by the humid temperature of their tea plantation.
He got passionate about rugby as he followed his love of sports, and peers and teachers recognized him for his sensitive attitude and leadership talents. Perhaps Ernesto’s decision to join medical school was inspired by this sensitive element of his temperament. Guevara had initially intended to study engineering in college, but his grandmother’s tragic demise inspired him to pursue a career in medicine, and he enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the Universidad de Buenos Aires.
As a young medical student, he was outraged by the prevalent poverty and inequality he witnessed while traveling around South America. Following his return to school and graduation in 1953, Dr. Ernesto Guevara began using his education to make a difference in the world. He steadily entered the political sphere in an endeavor to significantly alter the establishment’s priorities. He is still regarded as a revolutionary hero around the world.
3. Mayim Bialik, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
California is where actress Mayim Bialik was born. She was already a successful child actress by the time she graduated from high school in 1993, having performed in a few movies and TV shows, notably the lead in the five-season NBC sitcom “Blossom.” She is one of the celebrities who went to medical school.
After “Blossom,” Bialik decided to put acting on hold and focus on his education. She elected to stay near her family and attend UCLA, where she got a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Hebrew Studies, and Jewish Studies, even though she had been admitted to both Harvard and Yale.
After getting a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, Bialik returned to show business after determining that the duties of being a neurosurgeon couldn’t be reconciled with her demanding family life. Before getting a more steady role as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler in the hit television series “The Big Bang Theory,” she had a lot of brief television appearances and cameos. The character is, fairly aptly, a neuroscientist.
Read Also: Central Michigan University: Ranking, Admission, Fees, Course Details, & Campus
4. Ken Jeong, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Among the Hollywood celebrities who went to medical school is Ken Jeong was born in Detroit, Michigan, and shortly after, his family went to North Carolina, where his father was a lecturer at a university. Jeong attended Duke University before graduating from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with his MD (Doctor of Medicine).
Jeong first experienced comedy while doing a residency in a New Orleans hospital. By mixing his residency work with stand-up comedy gigs, he managed to create a modest fan base and drew the attention of some industry insiders, who pushed him to move to Tinseltown.
Soon after arriving in Los Angeles, Jeong was cast in a variety of television comedies, including Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office. But despite his burgeoning stardom, he continued to rely on his medical degree and work at a neighboring hospital to help him make ends meet. He didn’t give up medicine to pursue acting full-time until he unexpectedly became popular after Knocked Up (2007). He continues to retain a California medical license.
5. Pau Gasol, University of Barcelona
Born and raised in Barcelona, Spain, Pau Gasol, a professional basketball player, had parents in the medical industry his mother was a doctor, and his father was a senior nurse. He was elected to pursue his parents’ seemingly set career track despite his early love of basketball, which included playing for Barcelona’s junior squad at the age of 16. The adolescent Gasol fiercely decided to enroll in medical school to become a doctor and help the search for a cure for HIV on the day when basketball icon Magic Johnson made his status public.
But once more, things didn’t pan out as intended. Gasol left the University of Barcelona when his basketball career took off after he went there to obtain a medical degree. Since moving to the US, he has garnered various medals and recognitions for his on-court achievements. To keep their techniques a secret from other players, Gasol and another NBA player, Kobe Bryant, are reported to speak Spanish. He also makes full use of his multilingualism. He is one of the celebrities who went to medical school.
6. Dr Phil, Midwestern State University
Dr. Phillip Calvin McGraw, also known as Dr. Phil, received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Midwestern State University in 1975, this latest generation of celebrities who went to medical school, well-known for fusing his expertise in medicine with frequent TV appearances. He later graduated from the University of North Texas with a PhD in clinical psychology and an MA in experimental psychology.
Dr. Phil’s TV break came when Oprah Winfrey invited him to be on her show. After his first presentation was a huge hit, he quickly started making appearances as a frequent relationship specialist, giving viewers guidance and counseling. His first book, “Life Strategies,” was published shortly after and quickly became a hit. He also started his life guidance program, “Dr. Phil,” shortly after, and it has become a household name due to its popularity.
Read Also: How AI is helping international students
7. Jay Sean, Queen Mary, University of London
Known by his stage name, Jay Sean, Kamaljeet Singh Jhooti was born and reared in Southall, West London, and attended a private secondary school there. Before pursuing a medical degree at Queen Mary, University of London, he obtained great grades in both his GCSEs and A-Levels. But to pursue his burgeoning musical career, he dropped out of college in 2003.
With the Rishi Rich Project, Sean made his first huge breakthrough when their hit “Dance With You (Nachna Tere Naal)” rocketed to the top of the UK singles chart. He joined an American record label as the first British Asian vocalist, and he has subsequently collaborated with musicians including Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, and Lil Wayne. He is also one of the celebrities who went to medical school.
8. Graham Chapman, University of Cambridge
Graham Chapman is one of the celebrities who went to medical school. Before pursuing a medical degree at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, and then attending St. Bartholomew’s Medical College in London, British comedic actor Graham Chapman was born and raised in Leicester, England. Chapman joined the renowned Footlights club, which enables students interested in comedy and acting to connect and improve their skills, while he was a student at the University of Cambridge.
Chapman first encountered John Cleese in the Footlights. After achieving success with the Footlights during a New Zealand tour, Chapman decided to devote himself full-time to acting. After putting off his studies for a year, he ultimately decided to stop them completely. Chapman and Cleese would later become founding members of Monty Python, a well-known comedy troupe consisting of six British comedians whose work is still adored today.
9. Michael Crichton, Harvard University
Similar to Dr. Phil, Michael Crichton had a successful career in a field distinct from yet significantly supported by his medical school education. Having gained fame and money as a writer, producer, and director, Crichton left behind a large artistic legacy when he passed away in 2007. Poor English grades at school seem to have prevented him from pursuing a career in literature. Instead, he first sought a career in medicine, enrolling in Harvard College and then Harvard Medical School, making one among the celebrities who went to medical school.
Crichton tried writing once more while attending Harvard Medical School, and he rapidly started publishing his writings. It is apparent from Crichton’s corpus of work that his technical skills is exploited; many of his articles have a science fiction or biotechnology bent. The immensely successful “Jurassic Park” series is possibly the most well-known of all.
10. Deepak Chopra, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Deepak Chopra, a notable American physician who was born in New Delhi, India, achieved recognition in the 1990s after authoring some books promoting his support for spirituality and alternative medicine. As a top cardiologist in New Delhi, Chopra’s father also served as a surgeon in the British Army in India.
Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, employed him as a medical adviser at one point. Following his graduation from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Chopra relocated to the United States and worked in a variety of hospitals before being affiliated with the Transcendental Meditation movement. Soon after, he started studying the prospects for a medical practice that merged traditional and holistic treatments, he was recognized as one of the celebrities who went to medical school.
Read Also: RMIT University Scholarships 2025 in Australia I Fully Funded
In conclusion, the stories of celebrities who went to medical school illustrate the versatility and value of a medical background, even in fields as diverse as acting, music, writing, and activism. These individuals ranging from Ken Jeong’s comedic brilliance to Deepak Chopra’s holistic health influence demonstrate that medical training provides more than just a pathway to practicing medicine. It instills discipline, empathy, and analytical skills that can enhance creative and public-facing careers.
Some, like Lisa Kudrow and Jay Sean, took their initial passion for medicine and translated it into a dedication to entertainment, while others, like Michael Crichton and Che Guevara, infused their careers with medical insight to impact literature and social change. These stories remind us that career paths are not always linear, and the skills gained in one field can often lead to surprising and fulfilling opportunities elsewhere.
