Walter D. Dishell
- Additional Crew
- Writer
- Actor
Walter Dishell is an plastic surgeon, and also an Otolaryngologist -
Head and Neck Surgeon (or ENT - ear, nose, and throat specialist) who
served as a medical consultant on several popular TV series, most
notably, four highly successful, long-running CBS-TV shows: M*A*S*H,
Medical Center, Trapper John, M.D., and Knots Landing. Dishell, who is
subspecialized in facial cosmetic surgery, first began using his
medical background in entertainment when, soon after he completed his
residency in plastic surgery at UCLA, CBS asked him to be a medical
adviser for the show Medical Center in the late 1960s. Like many other
similar shows, Medical Center focused on physician-patient
relationships instead of the actual medicine itself. One challenge
that he faced as a medical consultant for M*A*S*H was always making
sure that the medicine Alan Alda and his fellow actors and actresses
practiced was not too advanced. Dishell consulted medical textbooks
from the 1950s and professional publications like the Journal of War
Surgery to ensure the show's historical accuracy. Walter also worked as
the medical reporter for NBC News from 1983-1985, and frequently
appeared on ABC's A.M. Los Angeles as a medical consultant. In 1986, he
established the Aesthetic Surgery Associates of Encino, California.