Brad McKay
Dr Brad McKay sitting on stool in TV set
On the set of Embarrassing Bodies Down Under
Born
Lower Hutt, New Zealand[1]
NationalityAustralian
EducationMonash University
Occupations
  • Doctor
  • science communicator
  • author
  • presenter
Known forToday, Embarrassing Bodies Down Under

Brad McKay is an New Zealand born Australian doctor, science communicator and author. He is best known for his television series Embarrassing Bodies Down Under, which was broadcast in 2013. He is also a regular guest on numerous Australian television and radio programs including Today.

He is a practicing GP in the inner Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst.

Early life and education

McKay was born and grew up in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.[1] He moved to Australia as a teen, and studied at Monash University[2]

Career

After graduating from university, McKay began work at a clinic in Melbourne. He has worked with remote Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.[3] In 2014 he began working at East Sydney Doctors in Sydney.

McKay's first television role was as a commentator on The Project. He then started making regular appearances on Today and Today Extra.

In 2013, he hosted Embarrassing Bodies Down Under[4] on Lifestyle You,[5] a factual television program that explores embarrassing medical issues. The series was an Australian version of the UK show, Embarrassing Bodies. The show was also hosted by Christian Jessen who hosts the UK version of the program, Ginni Mansberg, and Sam Hay. In 2015 the show was broadcast on the Nine Network.[6]

In 2015, McKay started regular radio segments on ABC Radio Sydney, ABC Radio Hobart, Nightlife, 2UE, and 3AW Melbourne.[7][8][9][10]

In 2016, McKay began writing regularly for News.com.au.[11][12][13][14]

In addition to his regular commitments, Dr Brad has appeared as health expert on many Australian radio and television programmes including Studio 10, Nine News, Triple J, Sky News Australia, 10 News First, and ABC News.[15][16][17]

Personal life

McKay was a doctor in Melbourne, before moving to Sydney in 2014.

Growing up in New Zealand, McKay was raised by religious parents who taught to never question a doctor's opinion and frequently used prayer when dealing with medical issues.[18]

He is openly gay and lives with his partner in Sydney.[19] He is an atheist and humanist. He has spoken in the past about the fact that he grew up in a very religious household.[20]

McKay is a committee member of the Australian Skeptics[21] and has said he is committed to keeping evidence based science in medicine. He caused a minor controversy in his home country of New Zealand when he publicly denounced former All Black Sonny Bill Williams for his use of hijama cupping.[22][23][24][25]

Books

  • McKay, Brad (2021). Fake Medicine. Australia: Hachette. ISBN 9780733646867. OCLC 1227692115.

An article written in Skeptical Inquirer, Susan Gerbic reviews McKay's book Fake Medicine: Exposing the Wellness Crazes, Cons and Quacks Costing Us Our Health. During his teenage years, McKay had a medical condition which hurt his backside, causing him to go to the doctor, then a physiotherapist and an osteopath. Then McKay's parents decided to invoke the help of God when surgery time came. After this, we follow McKay through many doctors trying to diagnose a medical mystery which is revealed in the end. Throughout the book, McKay discusses the phenomenon of Dr. Google, which he says has positives and negatives with patients trying to diagnose themselves, and a variety of alternative treatments including vitamins, cupping therapy, and naturopathy. McKay uses real-life experiences adding a touch of personal history to lead readers along the diagnoses ending with the problems science communicators face with such as media pushing a false balance.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 Hutt doctor joins reality TV show - Stuff.co.nz - published 27 May 2013
  2. ↑ Embarrassing Bodies Australian Edition with Dr Christian Jessen - Josies Juice - published 17 May 2013
  3. ↑ East Sydney Doctors
  4. ↑ Aussie doctors join Embarrassing Bodies Down Under - TV Tonight - published 27 May 2013
  5. ↑ Dr Brad Mckay - Lifestyle You
  6. ↑ What's new on TV this week? - News.com.au - published 14 August 2015
  7. ↑ "Tattoos may interfere with breast cancer detection - 702 ABC Sydney - published 26 March 2015". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  8. ↑ We've got a special Christmas episode for you tonight on @936hobart with @MelanieTait
  9. ↑ Embarrassing Bodies with Dr Brad Mckay - ABC Nightlife - published 22 December 2014
  10. ↑ Lyme Disease with Dr Brad McKay - ABC Nightlife - published 18 January 2016
  11. ↑ The great Australian lyme conspiracy - News.com.au - published 16 March 2016
  12. ↑ A doctor busts the big myths about your period and the pill - News.com.au - published 4 April 2016
  13. ↑ How my patients changed my mind about abortion - News.com.au - published 13 May 2016
  14. ↑ Are vitamins doing you more harm than good? - News.com.au - published 18 May 2016
  15. ↑ Lateline, When drug and sex addictions collide, with sometimes devastating effects, ABC
  16. ↑ The Bolt Report, Dr Brad McKay and Andrew Bolt, Sky News Australia
  17. ↑ The Hook Up with Hannah Reilly, Triple J
  18. 1 2 Gerbic, Susan. "Fake Medicine – A New Book by Dr. Brad McKay". Skeptical Inquirer. CFI. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  19. ↑ My Nana died waiting for an answer I couldn’t give her - News.com.au - published 3 March 2017
  20. ↑ How my patients changed my mind about abortion - News.com.au - published 13 May 2016
  21. ↑ TV Doctor joins ASI Committee - Australian Skeptics - published 10 December 2015
  22. ↑ "'It only damages your skin': Embarrassing Bodies doctor hits out at SBW's treatment - Yahoo 7 - published 26 November 2015". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  23. ↑ "Sonny Bill gets slammed by celeb doctor for cupping treatment - Scout New Zealand - published 26 November 2015". Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  24. ↑ Sonny Bill Williams undergoes hijama cupping therapy - Stuff.co.nz - published 26 November 2015
  25. ↑ Football player tweets photo of his blood-sucking cup therapy - Mashable - published 26 November 2015
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