Keith Ablow

The medical license of psychiatrist Keith Ablow was suspended in May 2019 by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine. The board cited an immediate and serious threat to public safety, following allegations of sexual and unethical misconduct toward patients and staff. Ablow subsequently resigned his license in 2026, marking a disciplinary conclusion to his medical practice.

Early Education and Career

Born in 1961 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Keith Russell Ablow graduated from Marblehead High School in 1979. He attended Brown University, earning a Bachelor of Science in neurosciences in 1983, before obtaining a Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1987. During his medical training, he worked as a reporter for Newsweek and a freelancer for publications including The Washington Post and USA Today. He completed his psychiatry residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center and held positions as a medical director at Tri-City Mental Health Centers and Heritage Health Systems.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Media and Public Commentary

Ablow transitioned into television and authorship, hosting The Dr. Keith Ablow Show during the 2006 television season. He authored fifteen books and contributed to journals such as the Psychiatric Times. As a commentator for Fox News Channel until 2017, he frequently integrated psychiatric assessments with political critique. This practice drew criticism from professional peers, including the American Psychiatric Association, regarding the ethical implications of diagnosing public figures without clinical examination. He famously speculated on the mental health of political figures such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Disciplinary Actions and Allegations

In February 2019, reports surfaced regarding accusations of sexual assault and harassment from former patients and employees. Multiple malpractice lawsuits followed, alleging physical and verbal abuse. These cases were settled out of court later that year. Following the suspension of his medical license in Massachusetts and New York, Ablow resigned from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine on May 7, 2026. This resignation functioned as a disciplinary action, permanently barring him from practicing medicine or renewing his license.

Fast facts

Born: 1961, Marblehead, Massachusetts
Education: Brown University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Board Certification: Psychiatry (1993), Forensic Psychiatry (1999)
Television career: The Dr. Keith Ablow Show
Medical license suspension: May 2019
License resignation: May 7, 2026

Questions readers ask

Why was Keith Ablow's medical license suspended?

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine suspended his license in 2019, citing that he posed an immediate threat to public health and welfare due to sexual and unethical misconduct.