Deepak Chopra (Hindi: दीपक चोपड़ा; born October 22, 1946) is an Indian-American author and advocate of alternative medicine. A prominent figure in the New Age movement, his books and videos have made him one of the most well-known and influential figures in alternative medicine. His discussions of quantum healing have been described as technical jargon—”a rambling, scientific-sounding rambling” that drives those who actually understand physics “crazy” and “redefines error.”
Chopra studied medicine in India before immigrating to the United States in 1970, where he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in endocrinology. A licensed physician, he became chief of staff at New England Memorial Hospital in 1980. In 1985, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and became involved in the Transcendental Meditation movement. Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his position at New England Memorial Hospital to establish the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center. In 1993, Chopra gained a following after being interviewed about his books on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He then left the Transcendental Meditation movement to become executive director of the Sharp Healthcare Center for Mind-Body Medicine. In 1996, he co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellness.