Kelly Crump profiled for Evening Standard
4 years ago
Russian Federation Doctor Mike, also known as Mikhail Varshavski, is a board-certified family medicine physician who leverages digital platforms to promote health literacy and combat misinformation, reaching millions globally.
Doctor Mike partnered with the AOA's consumer brand campaign, creating a video that directed viewers to the AOA's "Find Your DO" tool and encouraged seeking medical advice.
Doctor Mike began working with UNICEF in 2021, partnering on a video to discuss how COVID-19 vaccinations work, leveraging his platform to promote health information.
Doctor Mike delivered the keynote address at PatientPoint’s annual Upfront conference in 2025, emphasizing the significant role of healthcare professionals in digital media.
In January 2016, the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel collaborated in a $10 raffle for a date with Varshavski, which raised $91,000 for his Limitless Tomorrow foundation.
In late March 2022, Varshavski set up a donation to GlobalGiving for Ukrainian people to support relief efforts during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In June 2022, Doctor Mike donated $100,111 to Feeding America through a fundraiser organized by YouTuber Ryan Trahan.
In July 2025, he donated $70,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through a fundraiser organized by YouTuber Ryan Trahan.
Mikhail Oskarovich Varshavski was born on November 12, 1989, in Saransk, Soviet Union. His father, Oskar, was a physician, and his mother was a mathematics professor. At five years old, his family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York. During his high school years, he earned the nickname “Doctor Mike” as friends sought his advice for sports injuries, which solidified his ambition to become a doctor. He enrolled in an accelerated seven-year program at the New York Institute of Technology, combining a bachelor’s degree in life sciences with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2014, he began his residency at Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center’s Family Medicine program, completing it in 2017.
Dr. Mike’s career gained significant public attention in 2015 when BuzzFeed published an article highlighting his online presence and his dog, Roxy. This was followed by People magazine naming him “the Sexiest Doctor Alive” in its Sexiest Man Alive issue. In 2016, he launched his YouTube channel, which rapidly grew in popularity for its medically themed entertainment videos and its focus on debunking false medical claims. His influence expanded further with a TEDx Talk in 2017 titled “The epidemic of the ‘I Know It All’ expert,” emphasizing critical thinking in health information. After completing his residency, he joined Chatham Family Medicine, a family practice within Atlantic Health System, in Chatham, New Jersey, in 2018.
Throughout his career, Dr. Mike has consistently used his platform for philanthropic and educational endeavors. He established the Limitless Tomorrow foundation to provide scholarships and has actively participated in fundraising for various causes, including Save a Child’s Heart and GlobalGiving for Ukrainian relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he adapted his YouTube content to address public concerns and misinformation about the virus, interviewing figures like Anthony Fauci. Beyond his medical and media work, he has also ventured into professional boxing, making his amateur debut in 2022 against iDubbbz and his professional debut against Chris Avila. He also hosts “The Checkup with Doctor Mike” podcast, covering diverse health topics with guests from various fields.
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