Combating Health Misinformation: The Mission Behind Medknowlogy

1. Introduction: Why This Matters to Me

Growing up between both London and then California, I noticed a strange contradiction: people who cared deeply about their health often believed things that weren’t true. Some avoided vaccines out of fear. Others relied on “detox” drinks in the hope of fixing serious health issues. I even struggled myself to find reliable and trustworthy answers without having to spend hours scrolling through conflicting information online.

That separation – the space between what people need to know and what they actually understand – profoundly stuck with me.

So I started Medknowlogy to help bridge that gap. My aim was not to have long lectures or use complicated jargon, but with clear, visual, and accessible content to help break down some health myths using data from trusted sources like the WHO and CDC.

2. The Problem: Health Literacy and Misinformation

Misinformation has been recognized by The World Health Organization as one of the biggest threats to global health today. On social media, false information spreads quicker than actual evidence-based facts, and unfortunately it is often teens who are especially gullible to these trends.

In fact, in the United States alone, over 88% of adults struggle with understanding health information provided to them. And for younger, often more suggestible, audiences, the rise of “TikTok doctors” together with viral trends has made it even harder to know what's safe and what is unsafe and false information.

As someone who is passionate and inspired by the world of medicine, I realized that addressing this challenge isn’t just about preparing to become a physician myself, it’s about reimagining how we communicate health to everyone.

3. What I Created

I launched MedKnowlogy, a digital health literacy initiative designed to make reliable medical information easier to understand for both students and families. So far, I have:

• Created a health literacy website which features Top 10 Health Misconceptions, backed by data and citations.

• Developed a growing Instagram page (@medknowlogy) including reels, infographics, and myth-busting slides – it has accumulated over 1500 views within a three month period.

• Distributed pamphlets to several families at community gatherings to assist them in empowering their health.

• Created plans to translate resources into more languages, including Spanish, Punjabi, and French.

• Published reflections about my own experiences in healthcare, including my time in the COPE Junior Health Scholars program.

Everything I create focuses on myth-busting, visual education, and culturally inclusive communication.

4. Why This Work Matters

Health isn’t just about the body and mind; it’s also about providing information, accessibility and trust. Through creating the MedKnowlogy website, I’ve discovered that improving health literacy starts with understanding where people are in their journey and using formats and languages they both understand and trust.

This project has helped to reinforce my belief that medicine isn’t only about treating illness; it’s about preventing misinformation and helping to foster a culture where people feel empowered to care for themselves. It’s my first step toward becoming the kind of physician who aims to build that trust.

5. What’s Next

In the coming months, I now plan to:

• Launch translated toolkits on basic health topics for immigrant families.

• Interview healthcare workers to feature on the website and social media.

• Partner with other youth health accounts for cross-platform education.

• Expand distribution by sharing pamphlets both digitally and in person.

• Build connections with clinics, education and organizations to grow the initiative.

Footnotes

Kutner, M., Greenberg, E., Jin, Y., & Paulsen, C. (2006). The Health Literacy of America’s Adults: Results From the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Link ↩