AAMC Reporter: April 2009

Nothing in Jeopardy About Resident's Game Show Appearance

You might think that a doctor who appeared as a contestant on "Jeopardy!" would hope to see a category on health or medicine. But not Justin Waters, M.D. He wanted a sports category.

"I was so relieved that medicine wasn't a category," said Waters, a radiology resident at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. "It would have been so embarrassing to miss a medical clue!"

Waters, a lifelong "Jeopardy!" fan, always wondered how he would fare on the venerable quiz show. He got his chance last October.

"It was exciting, but a total whirlwind," Waters said. "They tape multiple episodes in one day, so there is not a whole lot of time to interact with other contestants. Alex was friendly, affable, and self-deprecating—not much different than you see on television."

Waters didn't do too much prep work, but he did get a little help from his friends.

"It's too broad [to study for]," he said. "There is no way to sit down and study. My only preparation was watching the show. Well, and having my co-residents throw random trivia at me."

So, how did he do on the show? That was one question that all his friends wanted answered, but he refused to tell anyone, except his wife, in advance of the December 2008 broadcast. On that day, Waters got together with a group of colleagues to watch the episode.

After 30 minutes of cheering and booing, the crowd learned that Waters had won. He made out with $7,200 and earned another appearance on the show. Unfortunately, his winning streak was short-lived; he came in second place the next time around.

At Beaumont, his celebrity status is lingering a bit more.

"I'm definitely known around here as the guy who was on Jeopardy!"

—By Elissa Fuchs