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Cover Story: Z Urology’s Dr. Michael Zahalsky Competes on TV’s Survivor

Continued from page 1 Dr. Zahalsky has never shied away weights.” on TV; and I love that my children, and
Dr. Zahalsky had talked about applying from hard work; his many accomplish- Despite being selected for one of the my future grandchildren, will be able to
to the show for years before finally decid- ments include becoming the first person biggest shows on TV, Dr. Zahalsky wasn’t see it as well.
ing to take the leap. He sent in a three- to perform robotic urology surgery in allowed to share his good news, which “It’s super cheesy, but my kids now
minute video that he produced in his Broward or Palm Beach counties, and the might have been the biggest challenge of look at me a little differently,” he added.
medical office, talking about why he first physician in the U.S. to publish all. “They called me at the office, and I “They see a person who isn’t afraid to do
should be chosen. results in a peer-reviewed journal about was literally jumping up and down, the craziest thing in the world. I came
“I probably stood out because of my the use of biologics injected into a shouting, and patients were running out back alive, so I’m kind of a badass.”
quirky nerdiness,” he laughed, referenc- human with ED. He was also the first of their rooms asking what was going While Dr. Zahalsky doesn’t know how
ing a joke he made on tape about the physician in the world to publish results on,” he laughed. “Then the woman on people will react to his appearance on
novel Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. “If from injecting biologics into a person the phone said, ‘It has to be a secret!’” so the show, he hopes that it will be positive
they didn’t read the book, they probably with Peyronie’s disease. I had to look at everyone and say, ‘Oh, it’s for himself, his family and his practice. “I
thought I was an idiot, but there was a He approached Season 35 of Survivor: nothing.’” think it will be good publicity,” he
method to my madness.” Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers with the Another complication came when Dr. laughed. “After all, who would you
On his video, Dr. Zahalsky discussed same mindset. “I’m willing to bet that I Zahalsky’s cover story about doing med- rather have doing your vasectomy - a
the impact that the TV show has made trained harder than anyone in the history ical research in Indonesia began to elicit regular doctor, or one who can tell you
on society. “Ethan Zohn was popular in of Survivor,” he said. “I approached it questions. “It’s amazing how many stories from Survivor?”
season three, and the name Ethan then like a quarterback going into the Super patients and doctors know people in While he’s ready to get back to work,
became popular in America for years Bowl. I watched all of the past episodes, Indonesia,” he said. “People were Dr. Zahalsky isn’t ruling anything out. “If
after that because he was such an influ- and studied the different personalities, quizzing me on what city I’d be staying I can use Survivor as a platform to edu-
ential person,” said the doctor, who also hoping to understand everyone’s flaws in, and what hotel I was going to, and cate the public about reproductive health
has a son named Ethan. and strengths. I looked at how everyone one guy even insisted that I meet up with or issues of sexuality, or find another way
“Survivor also happened at the exact played the game because you don’t know the head rabbi. I was like, ‘Um, no, that’s to help, I’m all in,” he said.
same time as the Internet boom, when if you’ll be dealing with new or repeating okay.’” “My son says that if I get to go back on
people were becoming rich overnight, players.” Dr. Zahalsky was worried about leav- Survivor a second time, I would be a
and kids began to believe that you could Dr. Zahalsky also continued his ing his medical practice - with no com- Survivor legend,” he said. “You never
just go on a reality TV show and leave a marathon training, running three days a munication - for the seven-week filming, know - maybe that’s my next challenge.”
millionaire, when the truth is, you have week and working three days a week but said that it was well worth it to par-
to work hard your whole life to succeed,” with a trainer. “I concentrated on the ticipate in the opportunity of a lifetime.
he added. “I wanted to go on the show to things I know I struggle with, like bal- “We all have dreams, but it’s so easy to Ed. Note:
remind people of this forgotten ance,” he explained. “My kids would just become complacent,” he explained. “In The new Survivor cast was announced
American value; that it’s what you have laugh at me every morning when they one phone call, my entire life changed. I Aug. 30. Episodes begin airing
to do to survive.” saw me standing on one foot while lifting can’t wait to sit back and watch myself Wed., Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.

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