Dr. Nancy Snyderman departs NBC News, announces plan to teach at 'major U.S. medical school'
Dr. Nancy Snyderman departs NBC News, announces plan to teach at 'major U.S. medical school', Dr. Nancy Snyderman has been axed by NBC News following a series of humiliating gaffes -- but a friend claims she quit the high-profile gig on her own accord to care for an ailing family member.
Her latest fobble came during a Feb. 22 “Nightly News” segment about peanut allergies where Snyderman, 62, slurred her words, leading to speculation that she was drunk when she appeared on the air.
At the time network officials said she had suffered from technical difficulties during the broadcast, although now a source close to Snyderman claims that the doctor only "seemed to be slurring her speech" because she takes statins to control her cholesterol, "and her prescription had just been increased."
NBC officials declined to offer reasons for Snyderman’s abrupt departure Thursday, although a high level source said that she had been asked to leave the network. In a statement, Snyderman said she had resigned.
“I stepped out of the OR a few years ago and it is now time for me to return to my roots, so I am stepping down from my position as Chief Medical Editor at NBC News,” Snyderman said in a statement.
Last year Snyderman drew attention to herself when she was forced to apologize on the “Today” show for violating the terms of her quarantine for Ebola exposure.
Snyderman had been on a six-week “family leave” imposed by her network bosses, who were enraged after she was seen picking up takeout food at a local restaurant near her home in New Jersey while she was supposed to be behind closed doors.
“Covering the Ebola epidemic last fall in Liberia, and then becoming part of the story upon my return to the U.S., contributed to my decision that now is the time to return to academic medicine,” Snyderman said. “I will be shortly taking up a faculty position at a major U.S. medical school. More needs to be done to communicate medicine and science to our viewers and citizens, especially in times of crisis, and with my experiences in the field and on air, that is going to be a priority for me.
"I have loved my nine years at NBC and I am proud of the work my team has done. Very few people get the chance to combine two professions and I have appreciated the chance to inform the public about medical updates and the plight of so many in other countries. Every moment has been an honor."
Snyderman’s departure is the latest black eye for NBC News, which is still reeling from the Brian Williams lie-gate scandal, a slew of reporting errors and other gaffes.
"Throughout her career with NBC News, Dr. Nancy Snyderman has provided her expertise on countless health and medical topics that are vitally important to our audience,” a “Nightly News” spokeswoman said in a statement. “She's been a valuable voice both on air and in our newsroom, and we wish her all the best."
Her latest fobble came during a Feb. 22 “Nightly News” segment about peanut allergies where Snyderman, 62, slurred her words, leading to speculation that she was drunk when she appeared on the air.
At the time network officials said she had suffered from technical difficulties during the broadcast, although now a source close to Snyderman claims that the doctor only "seemed to be slurring her speech" because she takes statins to control her cholesterol, "and her prescription had just been increased."
NBC officials declined to offer reasons for Snyderman’s abrupt departure Thursday, although a high level source said that she had been asked to leave the network. In a statement, Snyderman said she had resigned.
“I stepped out of the OR a few years ago and it is now time for me to return to my roots, so I am stepping down from my position as Chief Medical Editor at NBC News,” Snyderman said in a statement.
Last year Snyderman drew attention to herself when she was forced to apologize on the “Today” show for violating the terms of her quarantine for Ebola exposure.
Snyderman had been on a six-week “family leave” imposed by her network bosses, who were enraged after she was seen picking up takeout food at a local restaurant near her home in New Jersey while she was supposed to be behind closed doors.
“Covering the Ebola epidemic last fall in Liberia, and then becoming part of the story upon my return to the U.S., contributed to my decision that now is the time to return to academic medicine,” Snyderman said. “I will be shortly taking up a faculty position at a major U.S. medical school. More needs to be done to communicate medicine and science to our viewers and citizens, especially in times of crisis, and with my experiences in the field and on air, that is going to be a priority for me.
"I have loved my nine years at NBC and I am proud of the work my team has done. Very few people get the chance to combine two professions and I have appreciated the chance to inform the public about medical updates and the plight of so many in other countries. Every moment has been an honor."
Snyderman’s departure is the latest black eye for NBC News, which is still reeling from the Brian Williams lie-gate scandal, a slew of reporting errors and other gaffes.
"Throughout her career with NBC News, Dr. Nancy Snyderman has provided her expertise on countless health and medical topics that are vitally important to our audience,” a “Nightly News” spokeswoman said in a statement. “She's been a valuable voice both on air and in our newsroom, and we wish her all the best."