As many as 10 highly respected and renowned physicians have signed a letter branding TV personality Dr. Oz a "quack" and demanding he be removed from his prestigious position as vice chairman of Columbia University's department of surgery.

"He's a quack and a fake and a charlatan," Dr. Henry Miller of Stanford told the New York Daily News.

"I think I know the motivation at Columbia. They're starstruck, and like having on their faculty the best-known doctor in the country. But the fact is that his advice endangers patients, and this doesn't seem to faze them. Whether they're hoping Oprah will come and endow a center for homeopathic medicine, I don't know."

The fiery letter was also signed by Manhattan-based Dr. Gilbert Ross, who also serves as executive director of the American Counsel on Science and Health.

"We find it a shame that he has fled from the ethical and responsible practice of medicine to exploit his television popularity," Ross told The Daily News.

According to CBS, Miller later insisted he felt compelled to speak out largely based on Dr. Oz's "fear-mongering" on the issue of genetically modified foods, a subject Miller has widely written about.

Ultimately, the group forwarded their letter to the attention of Dr. Lee Goldman, dean of Faculties for Health Sciences and Medicine at the Ivy League school.

The university has since responded, "Columbia is committed to the principle of academic freedom and to upholding faculty members' freedom of expression for statements they make in public discussions."

Still, the criticisms keep on coming, with The Daily News noting the letter concludes, "Dr. Oz is guilty of either outrageous conflicts of interest or flawed judgments about what constitutes appropriate medical treatments, or both."

The TV shiow host has defended himself from his colleagues' comments. Dr. Oz said that he presents different points of view, according to USA Today.

Dr. Oz first joined the Columbia faculty in 1993. He cut back on his hours as his TV career has taken off. His current duties at the university include researching and teaching, but his salary is unknown. In June of 2014 during an appearance before legislators in Washington, D.C., Dr. Oz also came under fire when a Senate panel blasted his endorsement of weight loss medicines he touted as "miracle" products.

"I don't know why you need to say this stuff, because you know it's not true," Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, said.