Doctor Battles Medical Misinformation in the TikTok Era

Medical misinformation has reached unprecedented levels in the digital age, with doctors increasingly concerned about its impact on patient care. According to a recent study by the Physicians Foundation, 61% of doctors report encountering patients who have been influenced by medical misinformation, with 86% noting an overall increase in this trend over the past five years.

This timeframe coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that saw medical misinformation flourish alongside the explosive growth of platforms like TikTok and other short-form video services. These platforms experienced tremendous user growth during lockdowns when millions had more time to both consume and create content.

While content platforms initially made efforts to curb medical misinformation during the height of COVID, many have since relaxed these policies. YouTube has even begun reinstating channels that were previously banned for spreading COVID-related conspiracies.

Today’s information landscape presents multiple challenges: misinformation spreads faster than ever, consumers increasingly turn to untrustworthy AI systems for health advice, and questionable health supplements gain popularity through social media marketing. The nomination of a Health and Human Services Secretary with a documented history of promoting medical conspiracies has further complicated matters.

Dr. Fran, a board-certified OB/GYN who graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017, has emerged as a counterforce to this tide of misinformation. Initially joining Instagram for personal use, she pivoted to creating educational content when the pandemic hit and TikTok’s algorithm began showing her medical content related to her expertise.

“I would see videos where I was like, ‘Well, that’s not actually correct.’ Or it was like, ‘That person is misunderstanding something,'” Dr. Fran explains. “So I figured, well, I’m now a trained OB/GYN with a history in content creation. Why don’t I just make videos?”

Her first video addressed a common misconception about breastfeeding—that mothers must “pump and dump” breast milk after consuming alcohol. Dr. Fran explained that alcohol metabolizes out of breast milk at the same rate as blood, making the practice unnecessary if proper timing is observed.

Since beginning her content creation journey in 2021, Dr. Fran has produced hundreds of videos and amassed nearly 700,000 followers while maintaining her full-time medical practice, holding a leadership position at her hospital, and raising three children with her husband, who is also in the medical field.

Dr. Fran handles all aspects of her content creation independently, from filming to editing. Her approach relies on strict compartmentalization—dedicating specific hours each morning to content creation—and support from talent agency Viral Nation. Rather than planning content far in advance, she responds to misinformation as she encounters it or addresses newly released health studies.

“I do not plan anything ahead,” she says. “I look to see what’s going on in health news. If there was a study released, I’ll take it and address it.”

With over 1,000 uploads to date, Dr. Fran now creates only three to four new videos weekly, recycling previous content when topics resurface. Unlike many content creators, she has no plans to transition to full-time content creation, maintaining that her primary passion remains clinical practice.

Her growing influence has opened doors beyond social media, including an invitation from Senator Elizabeth Warren to address lawmakers about affordable healthcare last October.

Viral Nation, which represents Dr. Fran, has established itself as the leading agency for medical and health creators, currently representing over 35 professionals in this sector. In 2025, the agency orchestrated more than 60 sponsorship campaigns between these creators and trusted brands.

According to Everett Champion, the Viral Nation talent agent developing this category, the agency focuses on building long-term partnerships between medical creators and ethical brands rather than pursuing numerous short-term collaborations.

For medical professionals uncomfortable with sponsorships, Viral Nation facilitates alternative opportunities such as speaking engagements. “I have some creators who don’t do any brand deals at all, but they do tons of talks and speaking engagements,” Champion notes.

Despite the demanding nature of healthcare careers, Champion believes content creation remains accessible to medical professionals willing to establish routines and dedicate time to it. Dr. Fran exemplifies this balance, demonstrating that medical expertise and digital influence can coexist productively in combating the rising tide of health misinformation.