No Fake News in Health: An Evening to Debunk Misinformation at the Faculty of Medicine at theUM

[Press Release] - Published on April 2, 2026 in the Press Room

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine will host an evening event dedicated to fake news in healthcare in the anatomy lecture hall of its historic building in Montpellier. Organized by the Faculty of Medicine, the ExposUM Institute, and the SILR, the event will feature Mircea Sofonea, an epidemiologist (University of Montpellier and Nîmes University Hospital); Valérie Handweiler, a science journalist; and Boris Hansel, an endocrinologist and nutritionist (AP-HP, Université Paris Cité), who will be the evening’s guest speaker. This event aims to shed light on the mechanisms of health-related misinformation and ways to address it.

By invitation only

Understanding and Combating Fake News in Health Care

In response to the proliferation of fake news in the field of health, the Montpellier-Nîmes School of Medicine is continuing its commitment to education and prevention by offering a new edition of this evening event, intended primarily for residents and graduate students.

At the intersection of health humanities and evidence-based medicine, this event will explore the history of biomedical fake news, the mechanisms by which it emerges and spreads, and its consequences—both individual and collective. The presentations will also explore the response strategies currently in use, ranging from fact-checking in the care-giving relationship to science communication on social media. Particular attention will be given to the production of scientific information, its potential misuses, and the role of artificial intelligence in contemporary disinformation dynamics.

Hosted by Mircea Sofonea and Valérie Handweiler, the evening will feature a presentation by Boris Hansel, who is dedicated to disseminating reliable biomedical content and combating health-related misinformation, particularly on social media. The event is open to the public, subject to availability, with priority given to residents and graduate students.