Talk:Doctor Mike

Media appearances
Lists of media appearances are not encyclopedic and are a hallmark of PR editing. Moving that content here in case any of these refs can be used to generate encyclopedic content.

Varshavski has made many television and public appearances since 2012; in November 2016, he was the featured chief medical host on the live televised event Stand Up to Cancer U.K. special, during which he coached host Davina McCall in performing a rectal exam. The event raised over $18 million towards cancer research. Varshavski has also appeared on the Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, The Doctors, Inside Edition, Fox News, and Telemundo.
 * moved content

Varshavski has continued to grow in popularity as a leading voice for the medical community appearing on major television programs such as Good Morning America, Today Show, The Doctors, Rachael Ray Show, Mornings with Maria, Inside Edition, and Good Day. He speaks on a wide range of complex and sometimes controversial medical topics, breaking them down into engaging, fun, and easy to understand segments.

Alongside his work at the hospital and on television, Varshavski has also been a guest speaker at several universities, public forums, radio shows, and health/lifestyle conferences. He has spoken at Columbia University, Rutgers University, Brooklyn College and the annual iHeartRadio Lifestyle/Health Expo.

He has written articles in several medical journals and is a contributor to AAFP, Men's Health , NBC News , Livestrong, Women’s Health Magazine , Shape magazine, and AskMen. He also wrote a section in Magil's Medical Encyclopedia.

After becoming popular on social media, Varshavski has received a lot of media coverage. He has been featured in Time, Covetuer, Mr Porter, Cosmopolitan, New York Magazine, E Online and Business Inside r. He was hailed by the media as the real-life version of the Grey's Anatomy character Derek Shepherd.

-- Jytdog (talk) 16:54, 7 May 2018 (UTC)

Additional Content that appears more PR than informational


 * Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (2016) – Celebrity contestant


 * "Knowing yourself with Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, aka 'Dr. Mike.'", Heart House Radio, (2018)

74.108.148.154 (talk) 23:01, 3 March 2019 (UTC)

Youtube link from article
As a part of the text was inside an reference, I moved this out. This video is said to present Betsy Alvarez for the first time: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eIv5kedZoKs It is not really usable as an reference for the statement (she is only seen for a moment and he doesn't comment on her at all), so I leave it here. Gehenna1510 (talk) 23:21, 16 August 2019 (UTC)

He is not Russian!
He is a jew born in Mordovia. Don't mix Russian ethnicity to someone who just happened to be born on Russian territory. Those are two different things. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:445:500:4CF0:78F1:FE6F:47:E916 (talk) 04:37, 15 March 2020 (UTC)
 * In English, the word for ethnic Russian (Русские) is the same as the word for Russian national (Россияне). I think the lede is referring to his nationality as is the case in most biographies on Wikipedia. You can read about his ethnic heritage in the Early life section. 197.185.116.82 (talk) 07:25, 18 December 2021 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion: You can see the reason for deletion at the file description page linked above. —Community Tech bot (talk) 05:25, 9 August 2020 (UTC)
 * Dr. Mike.jpg

Image copyright
uploaded c:File:Mikhail Varshavski.jpg, taken by Varshavski himself as he had a video conference with Sean Kim who released Doctor Mike Debunks Top Health Myths with a Creative Commons license. The Creative Commons license applies to the footage of Sean Kim, but not to Varshavski.

The difference with File:Doctor Mike in 2020.jpg is that Varshavski came to Gesimondo and the video was shot by Gesimondo.

By that argument, CNN would not own the copyright to most of the footage on air these days. Happy to have this discussion on Commons if you choose to nominate the photo for deletion.

they don't. If it wasn't created by an employee or as a work for hire, CNN doesn't own the copyright. Sadly I can't discuss this on Commons. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 06:56, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * , just to slip in here. I believe that the video conference is licensed well since it's safe to assume that Varshavski consented to the license. I say this because it's original within the video. However both photos are of poor quality, and we need a better one.  Gerald WL  07:07, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * What makes you believe that Varshavski consented to the license? I admit I haven't watched the video in full, so if Varshavski mentions the license somewhere, it could be okay but we'd need a time code to prove it. As for the quality, I agree but still prefer File:Doctor Mike in 2020.jpg because the white balance is correct (not yellow-ish like c:File:Mikhail Varshavski.jpg) and he doesn't have wireless earbuds in. But opinions can differ on that, the angle is arguably better on c:File:Mikhail Varshavski.jpg. If a better image could be extracted from How To Cure Dry Scalp, Dandruff And Psoriasis With Dr.Mike please suggest a time code.
 * as a license reviewer, I doubt you would give a license review to c:File:Mikhail Varshavski.jpg due to the lack of visible permission from Varshavski. Or am I mistaken? — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 07:35, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Comment: I don't think I did. --Leoboudv (talk) 08:16, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Sorry, I think I may have confused you. I meant if a license review were requested for that image, you wouldn't grant it because Sean Kim doesn't own the rights and thus can't license them. If I'm still confusing you, just ignore this. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 08:49, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes. I probably wouldn't review it. Best, --Leoboudv (talk) 22:10, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Ok, sorry for the trouble. I see I have already violated BRD and I apologize for that. I do think the lighting on the current image is very off and I thought the image I captured was a significant improvement even with the earbuds. But as you said, reasonable people can disagree on that. As for the license, I also disagree but that is not a discussion well suited to an article talk page. --- C &amp; C (Coffeeandcrumbs) 02:11, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * What's "off" about the lighting on the current image? (in case it's something that could be fixed or improved) It seems mostly fine to me while your image is too yellow, I think Varshavski has some warm white lighting. The angle, sharpness and contrast are not perfect but the new image has no better sharpness or contrast. As for the license, if Varshavski was aware of the license that would be used for the video it would be fair but unless I'm missing something (I didn't watch the video) I'm not so sure Varshavski even knows what a Creative Commons license is. There's been a somewhat similar case with c:Commons:Deletion requests/File:Crank Sturgeon - OEMF 2012 - 01.jpg where had uploaded a photo taken of a screen that displayed an artist over Skype. There is a theoretical argument for the copyright to belong to Sean Kim (and Jmabel for the concert image) or even to be void altogether (public domain), but that's really just theoretical. I doubt there even is much case law for this. I'm curious what your reasoning is for Sean Kim owning the copyright (as you specified Sean Kim in the license tag), but if you'd rather not discuss that (or not here) I understand. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 06:27, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * My thinking was that while Varshavski was the one who owns the camera and set it up, it was Kim that recorded the image and first published it. At the very least, they are both co-creators of the work. For instance, I assume Varshavski has no copy of the image and only transmitted live. But you are right this is new territory, legally speaking.
 * As for the lighting, it looks like a camera flash just went off. The highlights need to be turned down. If I cared enough, I would try to do that on Photoshop but the quality of all these images is so low that it may not be worth. --- C &amp; C (Coffeeandcrumbs) 15:36, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * When copyright law was written, it was perhaps not considered that someone could display a creative expression without recording it while another party does record it. But even if the copyright fell to the recorder: what if multiple people record a group video call, but the subject does not? What if Microsoft/Zoom/etc records it? What if some government agency secretly records it? Would all those parties own the copyright to the same material? Also, you assume Varshavski didn't record it. We don't quite know that. Varshavski could be recording all this calls for personal reference.
 * As for the lighting, I'm not so sure. I tried reducing the highlights a bit and it seemed more natural, but I don't think it's actually right. I'm generally extremely hesitant to adjust an image of a living person in a way that unevenly changes parts of their skin/hair/etc. I'm comfortable changing contrast/white balance as a whole, but just the highlights? Better to refrain from that, unless the source material is very obviously wrong. But if you look at other photos of Varshavski on the web, you'll notice his hair is really dark. On your image, I think some filter (possibly integrated in the camera) is messing around. I think his hair is too light on File:Mikhail Varshavski.jpg. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 19:55, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Funny that came up today: I was talking just yesterday to a friend of Crank Sturgeon's who thinks he can get a license from Crank so we can restore that photo. - Jmabel &#124; Talk 23:30, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Cool, it's a very expressive image, would be nice to have it restored. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 23:52, 17 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Cool, it's a very expressive image, would be nice to have it restored. — Alexis Jazz (talk or ping me) 23:52, 17 March 2021 (UTC)

Changing Article Title
Under WP:COMMONNAME, I'd want to change the title to Dr. Mike (preferably, also used for other youtubers and what he is most recognizable by), or shortening it to just Mike Varshavski to better suit WP:COMMONNAME. Isben88 (talk) 22:54, 21 May 2021 (UTC)
 * Wouldn't Doctor Mike make more sense? Pabsoluterince (talk) 08:22, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Changing Article Title (continued)
I agree with Isben88 and Pabsoluterince; per WP:COMMONNAME, this article's title should be changed to "Doctor Mike (physician)", "Doctor Mike (Internet physician)", or "Doctor Mike ([something of the like])". Very few sources refer to him as "Mike Varshavski" or "Mikhail Varshavski" in their titles. L33tm4n (talk) 03:40, 19 June 2022 (UTC)

Requested move 19 June 2022

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: Doctor Mike moved to Doctor Mike (disambiguation) and Mike Varshavski moved to Doctor Mike. Consensus is that Varshavski is most commonly known as Doctor Mike and that he's the primary topic for that title. (closed by non-admin page mover) Extraordinary Writ (talk) 04:53, 27 June 2022 (UTC)

– Per WP:COMMONNAME and above arguments. There's little question that Mike Varshavski is not the appropriate title for this article under commonname. However, rather than boldly move the article I decided to put it under discussion whether Doctor Mike (physician) or something else like Doctor Mike (YouTuber) or Doctor Mike (internet celebrity) would be better. I think Doctor Mike (physician) is the most approrpiate as despite the fact that he's known as a celebrity doctor, his primary occupation is still a physician. There's also the issue of Michaela Quinn also being a physician known as "Dr. Mike" but she's known more commonly as Dr. Quinn and I feel that further disambiguation of the Mike Varshavski article (e.g. Doctor Mike (YouTube physician) would be cumbersome. Qwaiiplayer (talk) 21:49, 19 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Mike Varshavski → Doctor Mike
 * Doctor Mike → Doctor Mike (disambiguation)

Revised move target to Doctor Mike per suggestion by as this article appears to be the WP:PRIMARYTOPIC. Qwaiiplayer (talk) 13:59, 21 June 2022 (UTC)


 * Support moving the article per all of the above arguments. QueenofBithynia (talk) 00:51, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Move to Doctor Mike (YouTuber). His WP:NOTABILITY is based on his YouTube channel. Shwcz (talk) 04:00, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Comment: I would also support this move, FWIW. QueenofBithynia (talk) 08:26, 20 June 2022 (UTC)


 * Support Definitely the COMMONNAME. I would support Doctor Mike (physician) over Doctor Mike (YouTuber) (However, Doctor Mike does seem like the PRIMARY topic) . Varshavski didn't start his YouTube channel until 2017. But Varshavski went "viral in 2015 after he was featured in a BuzzFeed article, and then again in People magazine's 2015 "Sexiest Man Alive" issue." . His notability is based upon the fact he's a "sexy doctor"--not necessarily because he's a YouTuber. Dr. Swag Lord (talk) 09:51, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Move to Doctor Mike. This appears to be the primary topic; dabpage can be moved to Doctor Mike (disambiguation). 162 etc. (talk) 16:21, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Support. L33tm4n (talk) 18:31, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Also Support this, seems PRIMARY.--Ortizesp (talk) 18:36, 20 June 2022 (UTC)
 * Comment. This seems like an even better solution. I've revised the nomination. Qwaiiplayer (talk) 13:59, 21 June 2022 (UTC)

Some suggestions

 * 1) Maybe these categories could be added: Jewish physicians, Boxers from New Jersey, Jewish boxers, Jewish physicians
 * 2) I was wondering if "His father, both Jewish and Ukrainian, was a physician and a graduate of the Third Medical Institute of Moscow, " could be changed to "His Jewish-Ukrainian father, Dr. Oskar Varshavski, is a physician who graduated from the Third Medical Institute of Moscow", I'm not sure if the past tense is referring to at the time Varshavski was born, but if not, his father is still a practising physician. His father's name is listed on Limitless Tomorrow's home page
 * 3) Just before "When he was six", I do think "He has an older sister named Dasha" could be added or even "He has an older sister". Like "He has an older sister named Dasha. When he was six, he and his family immigrated to Brooklyn, New York"

Suggesting these because I just think that if someone reads his Wikipedia page those would be good additions for knowledge. Sawhitney36 (talk) 02:40, 3 May 2023 (UTC)


 * Be WP:BOLD and make the changes! Qwaiiplayer (talk) 12:06, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Incorrect category?
I don't think the category Physicians from New Jersey is the right fit, I believe that "from" implies born or raised, and from sources I've checked out, he only works in New Jersey and actually has to travel into New Jersey to get there. All born and raised stories include being born in Russia and being raised in New York. I think Physicians from New York City is the primary best fit. And maybe creating a Physicians from Russia category as I saw other doctors that could fit into it. I was thinking about adding him to List of Russian physicians and psychologists or Russian physicians but then I was reading on here that he isn't considered Russian (most likely due to not holding citizenship). There's lots of options here I'm looking at because I explored a lot of categories on wikipedia that would be more fitting. I was going to just add this but I have no idea what to replace or add.

Categories that could replace Physicians from New Jersey Sawhitney36 (talk) 20:45, 13 February 2024 (UTC)
 * Physicians from New York City
 * Russian physicians
 * (Creating) Physicians from Russia (?)

Career “millennials”
Why does his career section state that he uses his social media to provide health information to millennials when this information is being provided to his audience which is of all ages? 216.144.148.231 (talk) 08:09, 13 June 2024 (UTC)


 * It's poorly written; I think the implication trying to be made is that since millenials (and younger) tend to be highly active in social media, that his appearance there helps spread health information to a younger audience. I can only guess, since that specific claim/cite isn't verifiable via Google Books; what is stated there is that that he 'describes himself as the most followed doctor on social media' - a dubious claim at best. cheers. anastrophe, an editor he is. 16:01, 13 June 2024 (UTC)