Rubin knows how to post, often appearing with a small mic in his hand and always with his signature bowtie. His style of speaking invokes authority but never condescension, which is one of the reasons I think he\u2019s a great science communicator.<\/p>\n
Rubin has a medical practice, but I asked him five questions about his other job: helping rid the world of junk science and making us all better informed.<\/p>\n
The journey to becoming a doctor is long and difficult. Before we get into your work online, please tell me why you embarked on this path.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve always been fascinated by how the human body works. Medicine appealed to me because it combines science, problem-solving, and the privilege of helping people during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I was fortunate to see these moments early in my life because my dad is a pediatrician. Allergy and immunology was especially compelling because the immune system touches nearly every aspect of health, and many of the conditions I treat can dramatically improve when patients finally receive the right diagnosis and treatment. Becoming a physician has been incredibly challenging, but it\u2019s also one of the most rewarding decisions I\u2019ve ever made.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re a great communicator of science and medicine. (Your signature bowtie is a nice touch, by the way.) Your videos demonstrate a rare combination of talents that the world needs, especially as we\u2019re plagued by a firehose of misinformation. You could have just kept quiet at your practice with your patients. Why wade into the muck online?<\/p>\n
I realized that misinformation doesn\u2019t stay online; it walks into my exam room every day. Patients deserve access to understandable, evidence-based information before they ever need to see a doctor. Social media allows me to reach millions of people with the same conversations I have in clinic every day. My goal isn\u2019t to tell people what to think. It\u2019s to help them think critically about health claims, understand what the evidence actually shows, and feel empowered to ask better questions.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the number one thing you wish people understood about science and\/or medicine?<\/p>\n
That uncertainty isn\u2019t a weakness, it\u2019s one of science\u2019s greatest strengths. Science isn\u2019t a collection of immutable facts. It\u2019s a process for getting closer to the truth. Good scientists are willing to change their minds when better evidence emerges. Unfortunately, that can look like inconsistency to the public, when it\u2019s actually how progress happens. Confidence should always be proportional to the quality of the evidence.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your favorite thing about countering misinformation online, and what\u2019s the most challenging? <\/p>\n
The most rewarding part is hearing from someone who says, \u201cI changed my mind.\u201d That\u2019s incredibly rare today, and it reminds me that respectful conversations can still make a difference.<\/p>\n
The hardest part is that misinformation spreads faster than nuance. A confident but incorrect statement can go viral in minutes, while explaining the evidence often takes far longer. Add in algorithms that reward outrage, and it becomes an uphill battle, but that\u2019s exactly why more physicians and scientists need to be part of the conversation.<\/p>\n
America is turning 250 years old. This country has been behind a lot of great science and medicine. What are we doing wrong, and what could we do better? <\/p>\n
The United States has an extraordinary history of scientific discovery because we\u2019ve invested in research, encouraged innovation, and welcomed people with diverse ideas and expertise. I hope we continue to value those strengths.<\/p>\n
One area where we can improve is scientific literacy. We should spend more time teaching people how to evaluate evidence, not just what to memorize. At the same time, scientists and physicians need to become better communicators. If we don\u2019t explain our work clearly and transparently, someone else will fill that void. Trust isn\u2019t built by having all the answers, it\u2019s built by being honest about what we know, what we don\u2019t know, and how we\u2019re working to find out.<\/p>\n
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