Doctor Mike Explained
Doctor Mike |
Image Caption: | Varshavski in 2020 |
Birth Name: | Mikhail Oskarovich Varshavski Михаил Оскарович Варшавский |
Birth Date: | 12 November 1989 |
Birth Place: | Saransk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
Relatives: | Dasha Varshavskaya (sister) |
Nationality: | Russian-American |
Education: | New York Institute of Technology (BS, DO[1]) |
Height: | 6 ft 3 in |
Module: | Embed: | yes | Channel Direct Url: | @DoctorMike | Channel Display Name: | Doctor Mike | Years Active: | 2016–present | Subscribers: | 12 million | Views: | 3.2 billion | Silver Button: | yes | Silver Year: | 2018 | Gold Button: | yes | Gold Year: | 2019 | Diamond Button: | yes | Diamond Year: | 2022 | Stats Update: | April 26, 2024 |
|
Mikhail "Mike" Oskarovich Varshavski[2] (Russian: Михаил Оскарович Варшавский; born November 12, 1989), known online as Doctor Mike, is a Russian-American YouTuber, internet personality, family physician, philanthropist, and professional boxer. His Instagram account went viral after he was featured in BuzzFeed and People magazine named him The Sexiest Doctor Alive in 2015. He has a YouTube channel on which he posts medically themed entertainment videos and debunks false medical claims.
Early life
Varshavski was born on November 12, 1989, in Saransk, Russian SFSR, to a Jewish family.[3] [4] His father, Oskar, was born in Ukraine, and worked as a physician after graduating from the Third Medical Institute of Moscow,[5] [6] while his mother, an ethnic Russian, was a mathematics professor. He has an older sister, Dasha, who was born in 1980. When he was five, he and his family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York.[7] The family immigrated as refugees, and their first apartment was a $500 rent-controlled apartment with mice and cockroaches.
Varshavski was given the nickname "Doctor Mike" during his high school years by friends who came to him for sports-related injuries.[8] After seeing his father's relationship with his patients, Varshavski wanted to become a doctor.[9] He enrolled in the New York Institute of Technology and was accepted for an accelerated, seven-year combined track for a bachelor's degree in life sciences and a medical degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) upon completion of the undergraduate program. During his first year in the NYIT medical portion of the accelerated program, his mother died of leukemia, and he decided to move back in with his father. In 2014, he started a residency at Atlantic Health System's Overlook Medical Center's Family Medicine program, which he completed in 2017.
Career
In early 2012, Varshavski joined Instagram to document his life as a medical student and combat the notion that "you can't have a life in medical school".[9] [10] Varshavski uses his social media to provide health information to millennials.[11]
Varshavski gained media attention in August 2015 when BuzzFeed published an article about him titled "Um, You Really Need To See This Hot Doctor And His Dog" that highlighted his good looks and his relationship with his dog, a Husky named Roxy. In 2024, he bought another Newfoundland dog named Rib.[12] That November, People magazine named him "the Sexiest Doctor Alive" in its Sexiest Man Alive issue,[13] popularizing his Instagram account.[3]
In 2017, a year after he launched his YouTube channel, Varshavski gave a TEDx Talk on "The epidemic of the 'I Know It All' expert" at a TEDxMonteCarlo event. The video of that speech has been viewed more than 3 million times.[14]
In 2018, after his residency, he joined Chatham Family Medicine, a family practice with Atlantic Health System, in Chatham, New Jersey.[15]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Varshavski reconfigured his YouTube videos to answer people's questions about the virus.[16] Varshavski debunked many of Judy Mikovits' claims about COVID-19 from the conspiracy film, Plandemic.[17] In March 2020, Varshavski interviewed Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), about the pandemic.[18]
On November 12, 2020,[19] for his 31st birthday, Varshavski traveled to Miami to attend a beach party that was also attended by a number of other people without masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Footage of the event was posted on Instagram and went viral, particularly on Reddit.[20] On November 18, Varshavski apologized for his actions in a YouTube video,[21] saying he "messed up" and he needed "to do better". His attendance of the party was criticized by medical professionals. Bioethicist Arthur Caplan, director of the division of medical ethics at NYU Langone Health, said Varshavski "fails completely in being an appropriate role model and he should be called out, and he deserves even more criticism than he's getting so far."[22]
Varshavski made his amateur boxing debut in May 2022 against influencer iDubbbz as the headline fight in the Creator Clash boxing event.[23] [24] He won his match against iDubbbz in a unanimous decision.[25] Varshavski made his professional debut against Chris Avila on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva.[26] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In September 2022, he launched a health related podcast on his YouTube channel named "The Checkup Podcast with Doctor Mike", which was re-named to "The Checkup with Doctor Mike". The podcast covers subjects related to sexual health, mental health, physical health, and social health. Varshavski has interviewed friends, medical professionals, athletes, comedians and actors. Guests have included Steve-O, KSI,[27] Tony Hale, Dane Cook, Hannah Brown, Marques Brownlee, Steve Madden, Steven He, Barbara Corcoran, Kal Penn, and Brandon Marshall.
Philanthropy
In late 2015, Varshavski established a foundation, Limitless Tomorrow, to provide scholarships to students, and he has raised money for it by auctioning experiences with himself through his social media accounts.[28] In January 2016, the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel collaborated in a $10 raffle for a date with Varshavski; the campaign raised $91,000 for his foundation.[29]
In July 2019, Varshavski spread awareness for the humanitarian organization Save a Child's Heart by posting a photo with the organization's 5,000th patient while on a trip to Israel.[30]
In March 2020, Varshavski donated $50,000 worth of N95 masks in the face of shortages for medical personnel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[31]
In late March 2022, Varshavski set up a donation to GlobalGiving for Ukrainian people during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]
In June 2022, Varshavski donated $100,111 to Feeding America through a fundraiser organized by YouTuber Ryan Trahan.[32] [33]
Personal life
Varshavski has three nephews, Daniel, Steven, and Ari, they have all previously appeared on his YouTube channel.[34]
In 2014, he dated Cynthia Olavarría. Their relationship ended after he graduated medical school in 2015. In 2016, he and Filipino actress and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach met at a charity event in New York and started dating.[35] [36] He dated American television news reporter Jennifer Lahmers in 2017.[37]
In May 2022, Varshavski had his Lamborghini Urus stolen for at least five hours by a parking attendant at Hudson Yards. His building's security staff notified him and a police report was filed. According to a check on the license plate, the car had traveled all over New York City. [38]
In 2023, during an episode of his podcast, The Checkup with Doctor Mike, he revealed to his guest, Harry Jowsey, that after his COVID-19 controversy in November 2020, he had to seek therapy, and without it he would have been "screwed".[39]
In 2023, he revealed that Roxy, their 12 year old family Husky, had her front right leg surgically removed, believed to be due to a tight bandaid making her leg gangrenous; the bandaid was applied after a surgery to treat a sarcoma in her paw.[40]
Boxing record
Exhibition
Filmography
Awards and nominations
Varshavski won the 2020 Webby Awards for Education & Discovery, as well as for Health & Fitness in the category Social.[45]
Notes and References
- Web site: Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, DO. Chatham, NJ - Family Medicine. May 7, 2018. April 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421142314/https://findadoctor.atlantichealth.org/provider/Mikhail+Varshavski/639510. live.
- Doctor Mike Vs KallMeKris TikTok Battle . 2021-12-01 . Video . YouTube . 7:51.
- News: Lahmers. Jennifer. February 25, 2016. Meet People magazine's sexiest doctor alive. WNYW. live. August 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180805092318/http://www.fox5ny.com/news/meet-people-magazines-sexiest-doctor-alive. August 5, 2018.
- Web site: Liphshiz. Cnaan. 5 July 2019. Doctor Mike treats Birthright participant on Israel-bound flight. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191025082300/https://www.timesofisrael.com/doctor-mike-treats-birthright-participant-on-israel-bound-flight/. October 25, 2019. February 20, 2020. Times of Israel. en-US.
- Web site: Goldiner . Dave . Russian-born Dr. Mike helps Ukraine with fundraising boxing match and emotional video . . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327183657/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-dr-mike-varshavski-ukraine-russia-boxing-match-20220327-veue5ahjrzcnzfnrfrkedzjnhm-story.html . 27 March 2022 . 27 March 2022.
- Web site: 2019 . March 1, 2020 . March 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200301012958/http://ter-arkhiv.ru/en/archive/2019/ . dead .
- Web site: The Real-Life Dr. McDreamy. The Doctors. October 1, 2015. video. March 15, 2017. March 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024456/http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videos/the-real-life-dr-mcdreamy. live.
- News: 14 Things To Know About Dr. Mike, NYC's Most Eligible Bachelor. Elite Daily. Nicole. Riley Banner. January 19, 2016. March 15, 2017. March 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315175441/http://elitedaily.com/entertainment/dr-mike-nyc-bachelor/1352074/. live.
- Web site: Steinhilber . Brianna . October 4, 2017 . The 'Hot Doctor's' prescription for building a successful brand . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190213201659/https://www.nbcnews.com/better/business/how-build-successful-brand-according-doctor-ncna805241 . February 13, 2019 . February 15, 2019 . NBC News.
- Web site: Instagram Secrets of the Sexiest Doctor Alive. New York Magazine. Mikelle. Street. June 1, 2016. March 15, 2017. March 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315182832/http://nymag.com/betamale/2016/06/secrets-of-the-sexiest-doctor-alive.html. live.
- Book: Katz, Barbara . Connecting Care for Patients . 2018-10-28 . . 978-1-284-12942-7 . 351 . en . June 12, 2022 . June 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220612215925/https://books.google.com/books?id=idR0DwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en . live .
- Web site: Tully . Kaelin . Um, You Really Need To See This Hot Doctor And His Dog . BuzzFeed . February 15, 2019 . August 29, 2015 . February 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218215546/https://www.buzzfeed.com/kaelintully/i-love-dr-mike-almost-as-much-as-i-love-bobby-flay . live .
- News: The 'Sexiest Doctor Alive' has 1 million Instagram followers and wants to find love. Business Insider. Megan. Willett. January 17, 2016. March 15, 2017. March 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170315175625/http://www.businessinsider.com/dr-mike-the-sexiest-doctor-alive-is-auctioning-off-a-date-2016-1/. live.
- Web site: The epidemic of the "I Know All" expert. YouTube. December 14, 2017. May 15, 2020. January 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200119055120/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLDQr9i7LkM. live.
- News: October 24, 2019. Transcript: Chasing Cancer. en-US. Washington Post. live. 2021-02-23. 0190-8286. August 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819014649/https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2019/10/24/transcript-chasing-cancer/.
- Topf . Joel M. . Williams . Paul N. . 2021 . COVID-19, Social Media, and the Role of the Public Physician . Blood Purification . . 50 . 4–5 . 595–601 . 10.1159/000512707 . 1421-9735 . 7900472 . 33445176 .
- Book: Zack, Naomi . The American Tragedy of Covid-19: Social and Political Crises of 2020 . 2021-03-31 . . 978-1-5381-5120-4 . 162 . en . Naomi Zack . June 12, 2022 . June 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220612215923/https://books.google.com/books?id=yx0fEAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en . live .
- Web site: Ellis . Philip . 2020-03-29 . Doctor Mike Is Interviewing Coronavirus Expert Anthony Fauci Live on YouTube . 2022-06-25 . . en-US . January 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120143454/https://www.menshealth.com/health/a31968699/coronavirus-doctor-mike-anthony-fauci-youtube-interview/ . live .
- Web site: Dr. Mike: Man dubbed Instagram's hottest doctor slammed for partying without mask. December 8, 2020. www.msn.com. July 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712112809/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/dr-mike-man-dubbed-instagrams-hottest-doctor-slammed-for-partying-without-mask/ar-BB1bqd3H. live.
- Web site: November 26, 2020. 'Sexiest doctor alive' slammed for flouting COVID rules. December 5, 2020. NewsComAu. en. December 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201205142645/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/sexiest-doctor-alive-slammed-for-flouting-covid-rules/news-story/84af530f9f954d2c96407ddb7eabd2c6. live.
- Web site: Dodgson . Lindsay . Mendez II . Moises . These 45 influencers and celebrities partied hard during the pandemic, flouting public-health guidelines . 2022-06-25 . . en-US . July 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713014933/https://www.insider.com/celebrity-influencer-party-partying-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-2021-3 . live .
- Web site: Frellick. Marcia. December 1, 2020. Celebrity Doctor Chastised After Maskless Boat Party Photo. registration. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202010935/https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/941829. December 2, 2020. December 5, 2020. Medscape.
- Web site: Creator Clash . 2022-04-19 . thecreatorclash.com . en . April 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419093916/https://thecreatorclash.com/ . live .
- News: Polhamus . Blaine . 25 March 2022 . iDubbbz's Creator Clash to feature boxing cards with Doctor Mike, Michael Reeves, JustaMinx, and more . Daily Dot . 2 May 2022 . May 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220502161749/https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/idubbbzs-creator-clash-to-feature-boxing-cards-with-doctor-mike-michael-reeves-justaminx-and-more . live .
- Web site: Corby . Donagh . May 15, 2022 . iDubbbz vs Doctor Mike boxing LIVE: UK start time, stream and results from Creator Clash . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220515052836/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/idubbbz-boxing-fight-live-stream-26963701 . May 15, 2022 . May 15, 2022 . www.mirror.co.uk . Daily Mirror.
- Web site: 2022-09-20 . MMA's Avila to box YouTube star Doctor Mike . 2022-09-20 . ESPN.com . en.
- Web site: "She's My Rock" – $25 Million Worth KSI Shares How His Girlfriend Saved the YouTube Star From Being a "Lost Human Being". May 4, 2023. Ripan. Majumdar. March 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230305001136/https://www.essentiallysports.com/esports-news-shes-my-rock-twenty-five-million-dollar-worth-ksi-shares-how-his-girlfriend-saved-the-youtube-star-from-being-a-lost-human-being/. March 5, 2023. Essentially Sports.
- Web site: Koman . Tess . January 19, 2016 . ALERT: IRL McDreamy Is Auctioning Off a Date Right This Moment . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170315180020/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a52370/dr-mike-irl-mcdreamy-date/ . March 15, 2017 . March 15, 2017 . Cosmopolitan.
- Web site: Petersen . Vicki Martinka . February 16, 2016 . DO leverages social media popularity to raise funds . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190215155922/https://thedo.osteopathic.org/2016/02/social-status-do-leverages-skyrocketing-online-presence-to-assist-students/ . February 15, 2019 . February 15, 2019 . The DO.
- News: Barak . Naama . Dr. Mike pays Save a Child's Heart 5,000th patient a visit . Israel21c . July 8, 2019 . July 16, 2020 . July 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210712112811/https://www.israel21c.org/dr-mike-pays-save-a-childs-heart-5000th-patient-a-visit/ . live .
- News: Peele . Anna . YouTube's Dr. Mike Varshavski Is Using Internet Fame—and Hot-Doctor-Ness—to Battle COVID-19 . Men's Health . March 22, 2020 . July 16, 2020 . July 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200716001707/https://www.menshealth.com/health/a31788094/doctor-mike-varshavski-youtube-coronavirus-covid-19/ . live .
- realdoctormike . 1536469956077953024 . What a great cause @RyanTrahan Happy to have donated! I think you're gonna like my tattoo idea.
- Web site: Who is Doctor Mike? YouTuber donates over $100K for Ryan Trahan's 1 Penny challenge . June 29, 2022 . July 2, 2022 . July 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702084905/https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/esports/news-who-doctor-mike-youtuber-donates-100k-ryan-trahan-s-1-penny-challenge . live .
- Kids Ask Awkward Health Questions! | Doctor Mike . January 27, 2019. February 8, 2024. Doctor Mike.
- Web site: Rappler. Pia Wurtzbach confirms she's dating Dr. Mike, shares more details. April 15, 2016. February 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220219000443/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/129544-pia-wurtzbach-confirms-dating-dr-mike/. February 19, 2022. live.
- Web site: Rappler. Are Pia Wurtzbach and Dr. Mike dating?. March 20, 2016. February 6, 2024. July 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220716031254/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/126033-is-pia-wurtzbach-dating-doctor-mike-mikhail-varshavski/. live.
- Web site: Observer. Margaret. Abrams. Let Instagram's Most Famous Doctor Diagnose You. July 3, 2017. February 6, 2024. July 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703151423/https://observer.com/2017/07/instagrams-mc-dreamy-dr-mike-is-diagnosing-people-online/. live.
- Web site: New York Post. Tina. Moore. Dr. Mike's $320K Lambo taken for joy ride by NYC garage attendant : cops. May 17, 2022. February 6, 2024. May 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517184532/https://nypost.com/2022/05/17/sexiest-dr-mikes-lambo-taken-for-joy-ride-by-nyc-attendant/. live.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5mF_1UrA-c&t=3116s. Warning Harry Jowsey About His Steroid Use & Psychedelics. August 9, 2023. Podcast. Doctor Mike. 52:51. February 6, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230810014801/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5mF_1UrA-c. August 10, 2023. live. YouTube. Without therapy, I'd be screwed.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvBD6ioUhFo. My Husky Lost Her Leg (but shouldn't have). September 21, 2022. Doctor Mike. February 6, 2024.
- Web site: PEOPLE's 'Sexiest Doctor Alive' Competes on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' : Does He Win Big?. November 3, 2016. Kate. Hogan. May 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104162236/https://people.com/tv/sexiest-doctor-alive-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire/. November 4, 2016.
- Dr. Mike Varshavski. Doctor Mike. realdoctormike. 915750199456346118. October 5, 2017. Breaking down the hype behind vitamin supplements tomorrow at 10am EST with the lovely @rachaelray. May 8, 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220818034526/https://twitter.com/realdoctormike/status/915750199456346118. August 18, 2022.
- Web site: First Aid Kit for Summer with Dr. Mike Varshavski LIVE with Kelly and Mark. https://web.archive.org/web/20230508155956/https://livewithkellyandmark.com/live/first-aid-kit-for-summer-with-dr-mike-varshavski/. live. May 8, 2023. May 8, 2023. Live with Kelly and Mark. May 30, 2018 .
- Web site: Dr. Mike Varshavski Shares What Precautions to Take as the Country Reopens. https://web.archive.org/web/20230508160320/https://livewithkellyandmark.com/video/dr-mike-varshavski-shares-what-precautions-to-take-as-the-country-reopens/. live. May 8, 2023. May 8, 2023. Live with Kelly and Mark. June 10, 2020 .
- Web site: Kastrenakes . Jacob . Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards . The Verge . May 22, 2020 . en . May 20, 2020 . October 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201002020426/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21263445/2020-webby-awards-winners-lil-nas-x-nasa-jon-krasinski . live .
- Web site: Dr. Mike - 10th Annual Shorty Awards . Shorty Awards . November 22, 2018 . November 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181122131944/https://shortyawards.com/10th/realdoctormike . live .
- Web site: Dr. Mike - 11th Annual Shorty Awards . Shorty Awards . May 15, 2020 . September 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923215554/https://shortyawards.com/11th/realdoctormike . live .
- Web site: Kastrenakes . Jacob . Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards . The Verge . May 22, 2020 . en . May 20, 2020 . October 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201002020426/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/20/21263445/2020-webby-awards-winners-lil-nas-x-nasa-jon-krasinski . live .
- Web site: 11th Annual Streamy Nominees. live. December 5, 2021. The Streamy Awards. en. December 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213222108/https://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/11th-annual-nominees/.
- Web site: Doctor Mike The Webby Awards. live. May 8, 2023. The Webby Awards. https://archive.today/20230508144638/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2022/social/features/best-influencer/210232/doctor-mike. May 8, 2023.