Dr. Jen Gunter
I blog to improve the quality of content on the Internet.
When my children were born extremely prematurely I was deposited squarely on the other side of the stethoscope. As I began to research my children’s medical conditions I was appalled at a lot of the content I read on-line. Information twisted and distorted by bias (the reporter’s bias, the blogger’s bias, or even the investigator’s bias). The influence of Big Pharma and advocacy groups (some who have an agenda that may not be entirely aligned with their purported mission). The fact that a lot was just out of date (if the New York Times reports on a fascinating study in 2003 and then that study is later disproven in 2010, no one at the Times is removing or retracting that old content, it’s archived and will eternally show up somewhere in a search). And that’s just for starters.
But I had an advantage. As a doctor I could dismiss a lot of bad content immediately. But given my slightly obsessive research tendencies and my ability to remember pretty much everything I read, I found I could sort through the information quagmire and come up with the best evidenced based medicine.
And then I wondered, how does everyone else do it? What if you don’t know about bias, or how to track down a research paper never mind decide if it has any merit?
And that’s when I decided to write my first book, The Preemie Primer, to give parents the repository of information that I used to help my children thrive. And because publishers only allow you so many pages, I decided to add additional content and do my bit to build a better medical Internet.
Along the way I found myself wanting to blog about more than prematurity, so I started this blog. Because women’s health is important to me.
Because I know from experience that you can only be empowered if you are informed.
And evidence based medicine is the best way to be informed.
I blog to build a better medical Internet.
Discussion
10 Responses to “Why”
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Nice post on the Oprah exit. Great points. Loved the sarcasm. You have a gift with that.
Doug
Posted by Douglas Farrago MD | May 28, 2011, 11:22 amAnd we are glad you blog. Thanks for making medical and overall internet content that much better.
Posted by tommy riles | August 14, 2011, 11:09 pmI haven’t read much of your content (yet), however I am thrilled that I have come across your page. I’m a student at the University of Calgary hoping to one day become a doctor. Your attitude regarding medicine is inspiring and I will be following your posts!
Posted by Kal | February 12, 2012, 5:14 pmI love it! Thanks for adding worthwhile content tot he blogosphere
Posted by The Nerdy Nurse | February 21, 2012, 6:28 pmI just found your blog while researching on IUD. I also greatly believe in your evidence-based approach toward medicine.
Posted by yen k. | April 25, 2012, 10:59 pmDr Jen, I recently read your blog on comparing Guns to Cars. WOW. I have never seen anything so succinct and so obvious. I’m almost ashamed to think I never thought of this analogy and I am happy you raised the topic. I did take the liberty of sending the link to that article to my Congressman James McGovern, D-MA. I hope that is ok and that you continue my enlightnment.
Phil Raffa
Posted by Phil Raffa | February 4, 2013, 12:37 pmDr. Jennifer, I just found out about you last night. It makes me feel great that you investigate everything you read; now, I am going to suggest to you to take a look at my work. The title of my “piece” book is: The Human Mold-prevention from origin. It is about the origin of Pain, or, I shall say…the foundation of it. You may Google my name and find more information about me. Would, indeed, love to hear from you. Thank you
Posted by Jose A Jarimba | February 22, 2013, 8:38 pm