During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, he has been a frequent contributor to numerous CNN shows covering the crisis, as well as hosting a weekly town hall with Anderson Cooper.

His reports from Charity Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina led to his winning a 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Feature Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast.

[4] Gupta published a column in Time magazine and has written four books: Chasing Life, Cheating Death, Monday Mornings: A Novel, and Keep Sharp (Jan 2021).

[11] Gupta completed his residency in neurological surgery within the University of Michigan Health System, in 2000, followed by a fellowship at the Semmes Murphy Clinic, in Memphis, Tennessee.

He has published medical journal articles on percutaneous pedicle screw placement,[15][16] brain tumors, and spinal cord abnormalities.

In January 2009, it was reported that Gupta was offered the position of Surgeon General of the United States in the Obama Administration,[20] but he withdrew his name from consideration.

Gupta, a pediatric surgeon, Henri Ford, and two U.S. Navy doctors removed a piece of concrete from the girl's skull in an operation performed aboard the Vinson.

[25] Gupta was embedded with a Navy medical unit at the time, specifically a group of Corpsman called the "Devil Docs", who supported the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

[25] In December 2006, CBS News president Sean McManus negotiated a deal with CNN that would have Gupta file up to ten reports a year for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and 60 Minutes while remaining CNN's chief medical correspondent and associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital.

On October 14, 2007, Gupta guest-hosted a health episode of CBS News Sunday Morning as its regular host Charles Osgood was on vacation.

[36] Gupta served as a commentator on the University of Michigan TeamCast with former Wolverines kicker Jay Feely for the school's appearance in the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four, which aired on CNN sibling TNT.

[37] In April 2019, Chasing Life was adapted as a six-show TV miniseries on CNN that took him to Japan, India, Bolivia, Norway, Italy, and Turkey.

Others raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest with drug companies who have sponsored his broadcasts and his lack of skepticism in weighing the costs and benefits of medical treatments.

[45] Former surgeon general Joycelyn Elders also supported Gupta's nomination, saying: "He has enough well-trained, well-qualified public health people to teach him the things he needs to do the job.

[49][50] Peter Aldhous criticized Gupta's "enthusiasm for many forms of medical screening – even when the scientific evidence indicates that it may not benefit patients".

CNN defended the rest of Gupta's report responding point-by-point to Moore's response, contending that comparison of data from different sources in different years was in effect cherry picking results, at the cost of statistical accuracy.

[60] 2010: Gupta was honored with multiple Emmy Awards for his reporting on the devastating earthquake in Haiti, where he not only covered the event but also provided critical medical assistance.

[61] 2005: Gupta played an integral role in CNN's coverage of Hurricane Katriba, which won a Peabody award for its comprehensive and impact full reporting.

[62] 2010: His reporting on the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster was part of CNN's coverage that received a Peabody Award, recognizing the depth and quality of their journalism.

[61] 2005: Gupta's coverage of the Southeast Asia tsunami in Sri Lanka contributed to CNN's receipt of this prestigious award, often regarded as the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.