Medicine In 1986, LaPook began an active practice in gastroenterology and internal medicine at Columbia.
Journalism In 2006, LaPook joined anchor
Katie Couric at the "
CBS Evening News" as Medical Correspondent. In 2013, he was named Chief Medical Correspondent for CBS News, appearing regularly on
CBS Mornings," the "
CBS Evening News"
CBS Radio, and
CBS News Streaming. He has interviewed patients, healthcare providers, researchers, thought-leaders, and government officials, including
President Obama twice, in an attempt to provide insight and perspective on a wide range of health and medical subjects.
Education In 2013, LaPook founded The Empathy Project at NYU Langone Medical Center, whose premise is that a good interpersonal relationship between patient and caregiver is critical to excellent medical care. The Empathy Project seeks to promote a culture of
empathy in medicine—to educate patients to expect and demand it, and to train healthcare providers to be more humane and effective. It has brought together leaders in medicine, technology and entertainment, and create short films that will highlight important issues between patient and medical caregiver.
Awards LaPook has won five
Emmy awards for his coverage in 2012 of the national shortage of drugs, for team coverage in 2013 of the
Boston Marathon bombings, 2019 for Sunday Morning, Outstanding Program; in 2020 for Sunday Morning, Outstanding Program and in 2021 for CBS Mornings/CBS This Morning, Outstanding Live News Program. LaPook was also named a George Foster Peabody Award finalist in 2018 for two
60 Minutes investigative reports on the
USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. In September, 2025, Dr. LaPook gave the keynote address and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare. In 2024 he received two awards for CBS News: Hospitals in Peril: https://www.headlinerawards.org/2024-tv-radio/ and New York Press Club award . He has won two
Edward R. Murrow Awards for "Best Broadcast" in 2007 and 2013. He also won a 2015
New York Press Club Award for Journalism for "Eye on
Ebola"
WCBS-AM News Team Special. Dr. LaPook was awarded a Drama Desk Award https://dramadesks.com/ for his work as medical contributor to “Stars in the House” in 2020, keeping the entertainment community informed throughout the coronavirus pandemic. In 2010, he was recognized in the Webby Awards for his documentary series
Doc Dot Com. ==References==