Steve Valeika DVM PhD
@zoonotic1.bsky.social
DVM (UGA 01) | PhD (UNC 08) | Small Animal Vet | Recovering Academic | Infectious Disease Epi | ID and Public Health consultant for the Veterinary Information Network | Board member for Buncombe County Health Dept. | Family Guy | Son of an immigrant
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
I’m learning today that much like clownfish after Finding Nemo, there is now a boom in sales of tree vipers after the release of Zootopia 2.
December 29, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I’m learning today that much like clownfish after Finding Nemo, there is now a boom in sales of tree vipers after the release of Zootopia 2.
ruin two bands by combining them:
My Bloody Hole
My Bloody Hole
ruin two bands by combining them:
the yardbyrds
the yardbyrds
B.B. King Crimson
December 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
ruin two bands by combining them:
My Bloody Hole
My Bloody Hole
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
A Hampton Inn in Asheville just canceled my family's reservation because our address (incorrectly) showed Asheville—and the hotel bars locals within 50 miles.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
December 28, 2025 at 9:21 PM
A Hampton Inn in Asheville just canceled my family's reservation because our address (incorrectly) showed Asheville—and the hotel bars locals within 50 miles.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
"'It is out there — the concept of pawtism,’ said Dr. Brennen McKenzie, a California-based veterinarian who runs SkeptVet, a blog about evidence-based veterinary medicine." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
Vaccine Skepticism Comes for Pet Owners, Too
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"'It is out there — the concept of pawtism,’ said Dr. Brennen McKenzie, a California-based veterinarian who runs SkeptVet, a blog about evidence-based veterinary medicine." www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/s...
“Noxious MAHA fluffer” might be Dr Howard’s most masterful turn of phrase. It’s a very apt, and hilarious, descriptive term for what these people do.
If you don’t know what a “fluffer”’is, I suggest watching the classic film “Boogie Nights.” Or read some of Olivia Nuzzi’s texts to RFK Jr 🤮
If you don’t know what a “fluffer”’is, I suggest watching the classic film “Boogie Nights.” Or read some of Olivia Nuzzi’s texts to RFK Jr 🤮
And everyone here should block him.
Noxious MAHA fluffers, especially those from outside the USA, should post here to a graveyard of silence and solitude.
Noxious MAHA fluffers, especially those from outside the USA, should post here to a graveyard of silence and solitude.
December 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
“Noxious MAHA fluffer” might be Dr Howard’s most masterful turn of phrase. It’s a very apt, and hilarious, descriptive term for what these people do.
If you don’t know what a “fluffer”’is, I suggest watching the classic film “Boogie Nights.” Or read some of Olivia Nuzzi’s texts to RFK Jr 🤮
If you don’t know what a “fluffer”’is, I suggest watching the classic film “Boogie Nights.” Or read some of Olivia Nuzzi’s texts to RFK Jr 🤮
I can’t tell if we are living through peak irony, or if we’ve blown past it and irony is well and truly fucking destroyed. I wonder if Podcast Jay had even a moment of introspection when he typed this out.
It’s astonishing that NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has this level of insight about the administration he currently serves. /s
December 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I can’t tell if we are living through peak irony, or if we’ve blown past it and irony is well and truly fucking destroyed. I wonder if Podcast Jay had even a moment of introspection when he typed this out.
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
“I have never met an infectious diseases physician who wasn’t also an advocate
The nature of the work demands it bc pathogens do not exist in a vacuum, & neither do the people they affect.”
Grateful to learn from @boghuma.bsky.social & ID physicians, patients, & epidemiologists
The nature of the work demands it bc pathogens do not exist in a vacuum, & neither do the people they affect.”
Grateful to learn from @boghuma.bsky.social & ID physicians, patients, & epidemiologists
How I Experienced This Year
Living through 2025 as a Physician, Scientist and Advocate
bktitanji.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
“I have never met an infectious diseases physician who wasn’t also an advocate
The nature of the work demands it bc pathogens do not exist in a vacuum, & neither do the people they affect.”
Grateful to learn from @boghuma.bsky.social & ID physicians, patients, & epidemiologists
The nature of the work demands it bc pathogens do not exist in a vacuum, & neither do the people they affect.”
Grateful to learn from @boghuma.bsky.social & ID physicians, patients, & epidemiologists
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
New: Long-time predator Mary Talley Bowden, MD is officially reprimanded for unprofessional conduct by the Texas Medical Board.
The reprimand amounts to a sternly worded letter.
There is no substantive punishment. No fine. No CME. No probation or license restrictions.
The reprimand amounts to a sternly worded letter.
There is no substantive punishment. No fine. No CME. No probation or license restrictions.
![13. [Mary Talley Bowden] is subject to disciplinary action because she engaged in unprofessional conduct in that she behaved in a disruptive manner toward licensees and hospital personnel that interfered with patient care and could be reasonably expected to adversely impact the quality of care rendered to a patient. Tex. Occ. Code 8§ 164.051(a)(1), 052(a)(5); 22 Tex.
Admin. Code§ 190.8(2)(P).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:b4m7k62wlnjgrjbmfarrxrcv/bafkreigwf455avadqgjqesa7ex4w7g6qwre7e5fwndztooszue7nya5gae@jpeg)
![37. That [Mary Talley Bowden] knew she did not have privileges to administer her prescription to Patient while in care of Huguley Hospital but nonetheless intentionally dispatched her nurse to administer the medication and that Respondent's intended result in dispatching her nurse to the Hospital was to override the Hospital's care plan for Patient is a relevant aggravating factor the Board may consider in determining the appropriate sanction.
38. [Mary Talley Bowden], based on her disagreement with an inpatient's treatment plan, may repeat her attempt to disregard a hospital's rules on physician credentialing and treat an inpatient at a facility where she is not privileged.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:b4m7k62wlnjgrjbmfarrxrcv/bafkreiaijyuhwc5rg55fzkxitqvsicicj4ohklyurnhtfia55pv463p5ey@jpeg)
December 27, 2025 at 2:21 AM
New: Long-time predator Mary Talley Bowden, MD is officially reprimanded for unprofessional conduct by the Texas Medical Board.
The reprimand amounts to a sternly worded letter.
There is no substantive punishment. No fine. No CME. No probation or license restrictions.
The reprimand amounts to a sternly worded letter.
There is no substantive punishment. No fine. No CME. No probation or license restrictions.
Top ten album of the year for me. Neighborhood Gods Unlimited by Open Mike Eagle.
fortuitous semi-recent YT find #6: not an algo discovery, but @mike-eagle.bsky.social's vid deserves more love youtu.be/gFzs8YJuAbE #needswaving
Open Mike Eagle - my co-worker Clark Kent's secret black box (official video)
YouTube video by Open Mike Eagle
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Top ten album of the year for me. Neighborhood Gods Unlimited by Open Mike Eagle.
Merry Boocatmas!
Happy #Caturday, Boocatmas edition. Can’t overstate the danger of putting a hat on this house panther. Revenge will come when I’m not expecting it. Elf has already faced her wrath (that scene would have been a minor family emergency when the kids still believed).
December 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Merry Boocatmas!
Now is the time for the holiest rite of the season, the annual watching of Die Hard while we wrap presents.
a man in a white tank top is looking at something
ALT: a man in a white tank top is looking at something
media.tenor.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Now is the time for the holiest rite of the season, the annual watching of Die Hard while we wrap presents.
🎯 🎯 🎯
Bad-faith actors have used a well-worn playbook to undermine public health interventions and institutions to advance their commercial, political, and personal interests. We need to be careful not to conflate "meeting people where they are" with ceding scientific ground to these actors and agendas.
December 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
🎯 🎯 🎯
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
Social science research can help us to understand why doubt and disinformation find a landing strip in some communities. Community-level research and interventions will not alone overcome the political economy of disinformation and doubt fueling these trends.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/o...
Opinion | Three Experts on Vaccines, Measles and Kennedy
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Social science research can help us to understand why doubt and disinformation find a landing strip in some communities. Community-level research and interventions will not alone overcome the political economy of disinformation and doubt fueling these trends.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/o...
Good friend of Jay “Podcast Jay” Bhattacharya, our NIH director. He’s been on his podcast. Also the keynote speaker at RFK’s MAHA Grift-fest a few weeks back. Oh, and he was already under indictment for assault back then, this is a new charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service in England has filed new charges against Russell Brand, one count of rape and another of sexual assault.
Russell Brand Faces New Sexual Assault Charges in England
bit.ly
December 23, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Good friend of Jay “Podcast Jay” Bhattacharya, our NIH director. He’s been on his podcast. Also the keynote speaker at RFK’s MAHA Grift-fest a few weeks back. Oh, and he was already under indictment for assault back then, this is a new charge.
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
"[RFK jr.] may as well have shot the bullets himself [...] and I hold him and his colleagues personally responsible for that violence and the death of that officer", says Daskalakis.
Their rhetoric dehumanizing people who do public health created the environment that led to the attack, he says.
Their rhetoric dehumanizing people who do public health created the environment that led to the attack, he says.
December 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
"[RFK jr.] may as well have shot the bullets himself [...] and I hold him and his colleagues personally responsible for that violence and the death of that officer", says Daskalakis.
Their rhetoric dehumanizing people who do public health created the environment that led to the attack, he says.
Their rhetoric dehumanizing people who do public health created the environment that led to the attack, he says.
I was just typing the phrase “made me vomit” and thanks to my thumbs and autocorrect it was changed to “made Mercola” and holy shit, I think I just discovered a new phrase.
December 23, 2025 at 2:13 AM
I was just typing the phrase “made me vomit” and thanks to my thumbs and autocorrect it was changed to “made Mercola” and holy shit, I think I just discovered a new phrase.
This guy will be remembered forever in epidemiology—when you’re teaching about gross violations of research ethics
December 23, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This guy will be remembered forever in epidemiology—when you’re teaching about gross violations of research ethics
Please give a warm Bluesky welcome to one of the nastier “vaccine skeptics.”
Freddie here is either part of, or jealous that he’s not part of the study where they’ll let African babies become chronically infected with Hep B in their Quixotic yet fruitless search for vaccine induced mortality.
Freddie here is either part of, or jealous that he’s not part of the study where they’ll let African babies become chronically infected with Hep B in their Quixotic yet fruitless search for vaccine induced mortality.
December 22, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Please give a warm Bluesky welcome to one of the nastier “vaccine skeptics.”
Freddie here is either part of, or jealous that he’s not part of the study where they’ll let African babies become chronically infected with Hep B in their Quixotic yet fruitless search for vaccine induced mortality.
Freddie here is either part of, or jealous that he’s not part of the study where they’ll let African babies become chronically infected with Hep B in their Quixotic yet fruitless search for vaccine induced mortality.
Making the point that public health needs to cater to what’s popular isn’t “meeting people where they are,” it’s leaving them behind.
Co-opting the language of harm reduction to give people a pass from having their kids vaccinated against contagious illness is the exact opposite of harm reduction.
Co-opting the language of harm reduction to give people a pass from having their kids vaccinated against contagious illness is the exact opposite of harm reduction.
Rachael Bedard is the Matt Yglesias of public health punditry.
December 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Making the point that public health needs to cater to what’s popular isn’t “meeting people where they are,” it’s leaving them behind.
Co-opting the language of harm reduction to give people a pass from having their kids vaccinated against contagious illness is the exact opposite of harm reduction.
Co-opting the language of harm reduction to give people a pass from having their kids vaccinated against contagious illness is the exact opposite of harm reduction.
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
🔨The razing of the White House's East Wing to build a ballroom is "a metaphor for Trump's policy of destruction of leadership in health and science: the tearing down of venerable and respected institutions, to be replaced by a self-serving and vainglorious facade."
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
2025: an annus horribilis for health in the USA
The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices vote on Dec 5 to no longer recommend
the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose, which had ensured that babies exposed to hepatitis
B would not later develo...
www.thelancet.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:36 PM
🔨The razing of the White House's East Wing to build a ballroom is "a metaphor for Trump's policy of destruction of leadership in health and science: the tearing down of venerable and respected institutions, to be replaced by a self-serving and vainglorious facade."
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
Happy #BatMas everyone! Follow this thread ⬇️ or check out the hashtag to find out about a new bat species everyday, for 25 days! 🦇🌎🧪
#BatSky🧵
#BatSky🧵
a group of bats are sitting on top of each other on a green leaf
ALT: a group of bats are sitting on top of each other on a green leaf
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Reposted by Steve Valeika DVM PhD
This headline upset me all morning, so I sent the NYT this letter. “This headline egregiously misrepresents the ethical and political implications of embracing those who promote hatred… To refuse to draw any moral line is not to refuse to take sides. Quite the opposite: It is to side with bigotry.”
December 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This headline upset me all morning, so I sent the NYT this letter. “This headline egregiously misrepresents the ethical and political implications of embracing those who promote hatred… To refuse to draw any moral line is not to refuse to take sides. Quite the opposite: It is to side with bigotry.”
Rachael Bedard is the Matt Yglesias of public health punditry.
December 22, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Rachael Bedard is the Matt Yglesias of public health punditry.
Seems like a good choice for chilly, grey solstice morning. Original 1961 pressing from my Grandfather’s collection. I remember his buffet table sized record player cabinet that was the centerpiece of the living room back in the 70s.
December 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Seems like a good choice for chilly, grey solstice morning. Original 1961 pressing from my Grandfather’s collection. I remember his buffet table sized record player cabinet that was the centerpiece of the living room back in the 70s.