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Brian Glen Southwell

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Medicine, General Internal Medicine

Overview


Dr. Brian Southwell is an adjunct professor with Duke's Department of Medicine and also has worked with the Social Science Research Institute and the Energy Initiative. Southwell directs the Science in the Public Sphere program at RTI International and also is a faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill. He hosts The Measure of Everyday Life, a weekly public radio show, is the author of Social Networks and Popular Understanding of Science and Health (Johns Hopkins University Press), and edited Innovations in Home Energy Use: A Sourcebook (RTI Press) and Misinformation and Mass Audiences (University of Texas Press).

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine · 2021 - Present Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Medicine
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2022 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published November 14, 2023
Taking Aim at False Health Claims
Published July 24, 2021
On The Record: Health experts discuss impact of misinformation on the coronavirus pandemic
Published December 30, 2020
COVID-19 Conspiracies and Beyond: How Physicians Can Deal With Patients’ Misinformation

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Recent Publications


Lessons from digital health research

Chapter · April 2, 2025 The rise of digital media has transformed how people access and share health information, offering both opportunities and challenges for mental health professionals. Research on digital health behaviors provides valuable insights for improving mental healt ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Misinformation First Aid

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Craig Newmark Philanthropies · 2020 - 2025

Misinformation First Aid

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation · 2020 - 2020

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Pennsylvania · 2002 Ph.D.
University of Pennsylvania · 1997 M.A.
University of Virginia · 1995 A.B.