While working at a summer job, he received first degree burns from hydrofluoric acid that made him decide not to pursue chemistry as a career.

[2] After earning his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, Wolfe completed an internship and residency in internal medicine.

[6][7] For more than 30 years, Wolfe campaigned to have propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet) removed from the American market, because it can cause heart arrhythmias.

[8] The recommendation to ban the drug was ultimately not upheld and instead manufacturers were required to place additional warning labels on packaging.

[4] Wolfe was interviewed on television by Phil Donahue, Barbara Walters, Bill Moyers,[3] and Oprah Winfrey, and wrote for the Huffington Post.

[15] He retired from his position as director of the Health Research Group in 2013,[4] He continued in the role of senior adviser until his death.