Max Gomez, an award-winning medical and science journalist, passed away on September 2, 2022, at the age of 72. With over 40 years of experience delivering informed reports on TV stations in New York and Philadelphia, Dr. Max was known for his work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
His partner, Amy Levin, revealed that Dr. Gomez had been battling head and neck cancer, which he was diagnosed with four years ago.
Affectionately known as “Dr. Max,” he brought an easygoing gravitas to his reporting on a wide range of topics, including vaccinations, knee replacements, prostate cancer, colonoscopies, sickle cell anemia, Lyme disease, and MRSA infection. His report on Alzheimer’s disease was particularly moving, focusing on his own father, a physician, who was swindled as his memory faded.
As the chief medical correspondent at WCBS, Channel 2, in New York City since 2007, Dr. Gomez made a significant impact in the field. He also worked at other prominent stations such as WNBC, Channel 4, and WNEW, Channel 5 (now WNYW), along with KYW, Channel 3, in Philadelphia.
“What he did best was to care deeply and combine that with being able to explain complex things so well that regular folks could understand them,” said Dan Forman, a former managing editor of the Channel 2 news department. “And he would activate it by helping viewers find the help they needed.”
Dr. Max Gomez received numerous accolades throughout his career, including seven local Emmy Awards in New York and two in Philadelphia. Some of his work was nationally recognized and featured on CBS News program “48 Hours” and NBC News. He was also a semifinalist in NASA’s journalist-in-space program. Dr. Gomez co-authored three books, including “Cells Are the New Cure: The Cutting-Edge Medical Breakthroughs That Are Transforming Our Health” (2017) with Dr. Robin L. Smith.
Dr. Gomez played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing valuable insight and analysis to viewers across the country. Despite his own battle with cancer, he continued to educate and inform the public about the medical issues surrounding the virus, including its mutations and infection data.
It’s worth noting that Dr. Gomez was not a medical doctor, but rather held a doctorate in neuroscience. Although some criticized the use of the “Dr.” title, those who worked with him praised his extensive knowledge and expertise in the health field.
Born on August 9, 1951, in Havana, Maximo Marcelino Gomez III moved to Miami with his family at an early age. His father was an obstetrician and gynecologist, while his mother worked for prominent airlines in Cuba and Colombia.
After graduating from Princeton University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in geosciences, Dr. Gomez pursued a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1978. However, he decided to explore a career in media that would utilize his scientific background rather than continuing in research or academia.
“When I first decided to go after television, it was because I thought that if I didn’t, 20 years from now I’d be saying, ‘What if?'” he explained in a 1985 interview. He also acknowledged that, along with the desire to inform and educate, the allure of television included financial stability and personal recognition.
Dr. Gomez reached out to Mark Monsky, the news director of Channel 5’s “10 O’Clock News,” which led to a one-month tryout in July 1980. His performance impressed the team, leading to a fruitful four-year tenure. Notably, during this time, Dr. Gomez was one of the first reporters to cover the emerging AIDS crisis.
Following his tenure at Channel 5, Dr. Gomez joined KYW in late 1984 and received an award from United Press International for his documentary on AIDS. He later received recognition from the New York City health department for his coverage of the 9/11 attacks while working at Channel 4.
Reflecting on his role during the turbulent aftermath of the attacks, Dr. Gomez emphasized the importance of providing accurate information and alleviating fear. “Fear and anxiety levels were out of control in the city, but we were spending the first 20 minutes of every broadcast scaring the living daylights out of people,” he recalled in a 2016 interview, adding that he had to reassure viewers in the final moments of the show.
After a brief transition to Channel 2 in 1994, Dr. Gomez returned to Channel 4 in 1997, only to be let go due to cost-cutting measures. However, he made a comeback in 2007, once again joining Channel 2.
Dr. Gomez is survived by his partner, Amy Levin, his daughter, Katie Gomez, his son, Max IV, and his brother, George. His previous marriage to SuElyn Charnesky ended in divorce.
In a 1985 interview with the Philadelphia Daily News, Dr. Gomez emphasized the seriousness of his role as a public figure. He viewed being on television as a major responsibility, acknowledging the trust placed in him by the public. “I feel I owe it to people to be their first filter,” he said. “So if I’m talking about a health cure, I want to know where has this information been published. I present the best product I can. I know that it’s scientifically accurate.”
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