FAQ's: the show

Is the show live or on tape?

Dr. Hoffman broadcasts Health Talk live from the flagship radio studios of WOR Radio Monday through Friday from 11pm-12 midnight Eastern time and Saturdays from noon-2pm. Dr. Hoffman will still be broadcasting live to his affiliates at 9pm Eastern. So, if you have questions, but listen in a market that airs later, call 800 544-7070, speak with Dr. Hoffman and then listen to yourself when the shiow is broadcast. When Dr. Hoffman travels to medical conferences, the show is on tape for all affiliates.

Does Dr Hoffman know the questions in advance?
Dr. Hoffman does not know the questions in advance. After he gives out the toll free number 800 544-7070, he reviews topical features of the day while the calls come in.

How does Dr. Hoffman know the answers to the questions?

For the most part Dr. Hoffman knows the answers to the questions posed because he sees similar medical problems in the patients he sees every day at his medical practice.

Does someone look up the answers to the questions for Dr. Hoffman during the commercials?

Occasionally Dr. Hoffman needs to look something up on the internet. He has computers in the studio and he is able to conduct a search in a few minute's time.

Why do I have to talk to a screener before I can talk to Dr. Hoffman?

As much as Dr. Hoffman would like to help everyone who calls with a medical problem, he also has to balance that wish with fact that commercial radio is structured to be entertaining. Radio is just about the last form of electronic entertainment that is free. Just think how much your TV cable bill is each month. So, the screener's job is to choose interesting questions from callers who are easy to understand.

When is the best time to call?

Don't tell anybody,.....but the best time to call is at the top of the hour during the news.

Why do I have to turn off my radio?

Most commercial radio sends a signal out on a 7 second delay from the time that the voice is available for broadcasting. This allows the engineer to "kill" or delete a word or phrase that is not considered appropriate for radio.

Does Dr. Hoffman know what my question is?

Yes, Dr. Hoffman has caller questions displayed on one of his computer screens. After the screener talks with you about your question and decides that it will make "good radio" he or she types the question into a computer and it is displayed for both the screener and Dr. Hoffman.

How does Dr. Hoffman choose the questions?

Dr. Hoffman chooses questions according to the interest he feels the listeners share with the caller; the amount of time the caller has been waiting on the line; and recent research showcasing an Intelligent Medicine approach to the problem.

How does Dr. Hoffman choose his guests?

Guests are chosen from press kits, review copies and samples that are sent to WOR for review. Other guests are chosen from people or issues in the news; as well as academics who present discoveries at medical conferences.

If I have a question about something I've heard, what do I do?

Many of your questions can be answered by putting a query into the SEARCH feature of this website. If you can't find the information on the website, you can write a question requiring a very short answer to HealthTalk@drhoffman.com. You can also send a SASE to:

Dr. Ronald Hoffman
WOR Radio
111 Broadway
NY, NY 10006

Answers will be limited to two sentences.

If I have an idea for a guest, what should I do?

Send press kits and review copies to:

Dr. Ronald Hoffman
WOR Radio
111 Broadway
NY, NY 10006

How similar is the studio setup to Frazier's radio studio?

Frazier doesn't wear headphones and all the talent at WOR do because they need to "hear" themselves as the broadcast goes out on the air.

Is there a "Roz"?

Yes, sort of. Currently Ira is screening on Mondays and Tuesdays. Noah--who single-handedly runs the station evenings--screens on Wednesday through Friday. Different people fill in on Saturdays. We also have an engineer for each program. John is frequently on the case. Laurie books the guests and does some of the research for the show.

Can I get a tape or a transcript of the show?

Unfortunately, neither tapes nor transcripts are available. We hope that at some point, listeners will be able to download podcasts.

What does Dr. Hoffman do when he isn't reading medical literature, seeing patients, presenting to groups or broadcasting?

Dr. Hoffman exercises regularly and cross trains (season permitting) with running, swimming, kayaking, weightlifting, sailing and running on a treadmill. He also skis and snowshoes. He tries to read one novel per month. We will post the book he is reading each month. Dr. Hoffman's favorite pastime is watching movies. When he gets home after broadcasting, he frequently unwinds watching the Independent Film Channel.

He has seen all "Lord of the Rings" films.