DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE

DANBURY’S ‘DR. IAN’ HOSTS A REFORMATTED SHOW, WHICH IS PRODUCED IN STAMFORD

of exhalation; I feel I have a highpaced life and I get a chance to exhale when I get home and just really go to my old spots. I drive by my old grammar school, Park Avenue... and I go by my old church...

Q: Your work as a physician turned into a career as a TV health personality, from Katie Couric dubbing you “Dr. Ian” to hosting VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club,” to appearances on “Rachael Ray” and “Good Morning America.” You also wrote several books and served on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition under President Barack Obama. Traveling in such circles, have you ever found yourself in a situation that seemed surreal?

A: When I worked for NBC news, I would be invited to all these different galas and black-tie affairs and the legendary makeup artist Bobbi Brown invited me to something for The Fresh Air Fund, which was held in Central Park every year.

So one time she invited me and I sat next to this really big guy who was extremely nice and extremely affable. I did not know who he was but it was obvious by his size that he played football, so we had a very nice conversation and bonded very well. We both love golf so we talked about golf most of the dinner and afterward we made a deal we were gonna go play golf together.

So I get home and my twin brother, Dana, who was living in New York at the same time, says, “Hey, what did you do tonight?” I said, “Well, I sat next to a guy named Michael Strand. He said, “Do you mean Strahan?”

“Yeah, I think that’s his name.” “From the New York Giants?” I said, “Yeah I think he said he played for the Giants.” He said, “Ian, you don’t know who Michael Strahan is?”

And I had no clue. That began my great relationship with Michael Strahan, not even knowing who he was, but bonding with him just because he’s a great guy.