Ophthalmologist and comedian Will Flanary, known online as Dr. Glaucomflecken, explains how humor, honesty, and a tick-borne illness skit became one of the most powerful tools for public health communication.
What responses from your audience have stood out when you’ve talked about infectious diseases or public health?
The infectious disease doctor is one of my most popular characters. One of my best-performing skits was “The Infectious Disease Doctor Goes on a Hike,” in which I listed off many tick-borne illnesses. Many responses were from people sharing their own tick-borne illness experiences.
How do you use humor to help people engage with topics like infectious diseases that can otherwise feel overwhelming or intimidating?
People are more likely to pay attention to or listen to what you have to say if you can make it funny. This goes for any topic, from the healthcare system to ophthalmology to infectious diseases. It also helps to explain complex topics in language that anybody can understand.
What everyday situations do you think people don’t realize can play a role in spreading infectious diseases?
Hand-washing. Simple but effective, and most people probably don’t do it enough.
How has your experience as both a physician and communicator shaped the way you talk to people about prevention?
As a physician, I learn the science and medicine behind infection and infection prevention. As a communicator, I have learned how to distill that knowledge into an easily digestible message.
What questions or concerns do you hear most often from people when infectious diseases are in the news?
What information can you trust? Can you trust what you hear on social media and in the news? Science misinformation is rampant.
What impact do you hope your videos and storytelling have on how people approach their health?
Above all else, I want people to see the human side of medicine. I want them to recognize that doctors are just regular people who have strengths and weaknesses and successes and failures. I want them to be skeptical, while also recognizing the years of expertise and training that go into what we do as medical professionals. I also want people to laugh. Laughter might not be the best medicine, but it’s a pretty good one.
How has creating content about medicine changed the way you think about infectious diseases and prevention?
It has forced me to re-learn things that I used to know as a medical student. When I make a video, I need to make it funny but also scientifically accurate. I have actually learned more about infectious diseases in my years as a content creator than I ever would have as a practicing ophthalmologist.
