Jessica Malaty Rivera
Infectious Disease Epidemiologist & Science Communicator
1 Podcast on BackTable
Jessica Malaty Rivera is an infectious disease epidemiologist & science communicator.
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Episode # 539 • 15 Sept 2026
TikTok Trends in Medicine
Learn the evidence on social media wellness trends and how to discuss with your patients (and friends!) without being dismissive (or falling for the hype). Explore viral trends like peptides, red light masks, sleepy girl mocktails and mouth taping along with understanding influencer incentives for promoting wellness trends. We’re joined by infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator Jessica Malaty Rivera to talk evidence, uncertainty, misinformation, and trust, @jessicamalatyrivera, (JPHMP, @jessicamalatyrivera, Making Science Make Sense Substack).
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About
Jessica Malaty Rivera is an infectious disease epidemiologist and award winning science communicator. She has dedicated the last 20 years of her career to emerging infectious disease surveillance, public health policy, and vaccine advocacy. Her specialty is in translating complex public health science into impactful, judgement-free, and accessible information for wide audiences. Jessica is passionate about diversity in STEM and committed to promoting equity and fair representation in and through her work.
In 2021, Jessica was named one of the "World’s 50 Greatest Leaders" by Fortune Magazine for her work on COVID-19 research and data communication and in 2022, Jessica was named of the Top 50 Leaders in Digital Health by Rock Health. In 2023, Jessica was named a Fierce 50 Social Impact Honoree, and in 2024, she was nominated for her first Peabody Award as the host of the COVID Tracking Project Podcast.
Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Infodemiology Initiative at The Public Good Projects, a Research Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital Innovation & Digital Health Accelerator, and a doctoral student researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. In between her day jobs and being a full-time mother to three little kids, she also dedicates several hours a week to promoting science literacy and debunking misinformation on Instagram (@jessicamalatyrivera) and on Substack (@makingsciencemakesense).
The Materials available on BackTable are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the independent professional judgment of a qualified healthcare professional in diagnosing or treating patients. Any opinions, statements, or views expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, platform, or any affiliated organization.