Author: Jordan Francke, MD, MPH
IARS and SOCCA 2026 Annual Meeting coverage
Trust in physicians, scientists, and public institutions is declining at a time when misinformation and artificial intelligence can rapidly amplify false or misleading claims. During the T.H. Seldon Memorial Lecture at the 2026 IARS and SOCCA Annual Meeting, Sharon Straus, CM, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FCAHS, FRSC, discussed how evidence-based medicine, transparency, public engagement, and implementation science can help rebuild confidence in health care.
The meeting opened with remarks from IARS President Oluwaseun Johnson-Akeju, MD, who welcomed attendees and recognized the individuals and organizations supporting the Annual Meeting. Incoming IARS President Vivianne Tawfik, MD, PhD, introduced the organization’s new Volunteer of the Year Award.
Patrick Olomu, MD, FRCA, FMCA, received the inaugural award in recognition of his leadership, volunteer service, and contributions to the international anesthesia community.
Dr. Straus began her lecture by emphasizing that science remains one of society’s strongest defenses against uncertainty, misinformation, and disinformation. However, public confidence in health care professionals and scientific institutions has weakened.
A 2025 international trust survey found that nearly one-third of respondents believed they were as knowledgeable as their health care providers. Trust in physicians was declining, while reliance on friends and social media for medical advice was increasing.
Dr. Straus emphasized that skepticism is not inherently harmful. Questioning evidence and authority can be valuable, while blind acceptance can be dangerous. The greater concern is that artificial intelligence and digital communication platforms can generate and distribute enormous amounts of convincing misinformation with limited oversight.
Trust in science and medicine matters because it helps patients make informed decisions, supports effective public policy, improves acceptance of preventive health measures, and strengthens confidence in institutions.
Dr. Straus proposed three major responsibilities for clinicians and scientists:
- Practice evidence-based health care
- Communicate transparently and consistently
- Engage patients, caregivers, and the public
Evidence-based care should combine the strongest available research with clinical expertise and the patient’s individual values and preferences.
Clinicians should avoid unnecessary jargon, explain uncertainty honestly, and communicate consistently. Trust is strengthened when health care professionals acknowledge what is known, what remains uncertain, and how recommendations may change as evidence evolves.
Public engagement is equally important. Clinicians and researchers must listen to patients, understand their concerns, improve health literacy, and include patients and caregivers in the development and implementation of health care practices.
Dr. Straus also described the “leaky research pipeline.” More than $250 billion may be wasted annually on research that asks poorly defined questions, uses inadequate methods, is never published, cannot be reproduced, or remains inaccessible to the public.
Producing evidence alone is not enough. Research must be translated into clinical practice in a way that improves patient care.
To illustrate implementation science, Dr. Straus described a project focused on increasing the use of fascia iliaca blocks for older patients undergoing hip surgery. Successful clinical change required several steps:
- Identify the problem and the need for change
- Review and organize the available evidence
- Determine barriers and factors supporting adoption
- Design interventions appropriate to the clinical environment
- Evaluate whether the change improves practice and outcomes
Interventions may target individual clinicians, teams, departments, or entire health systems. Depending on the problem, changing one element may be sufficient, while other challenges require coordinated changes across several parts of the organization.
Key Takeaways
Rebuilding trust requires more than publishing additional research. Scientists and health care professionals must produce reliable evidence, make it accessible, communicate it clearly, and demonstrate how it improves patient care.
Clinicians should combine scientific evidence with experience and patient preferences rather than treating evidence-based medicine as the mechanical application of guidelines.
Transparency is essential. Clearly acknowledging uncertainty is more trustworthy than presenting incomplete knowledge with false confidence.
Patients and the public should be treated as active partners. Listening, using understandable language, and responding respectfully to concerns can reduce distrust and improve shared decision-making.
Implementation science helps close the gap between what research shows and what clinicians actually do. Practice change requires an understanding of local barriers, workflows, incentives, and culture.
One of the most important statements a clinician or scientist can make is, “I don’t know.” Intellectual humility does not weaken trust; when accompanied by a commitment to seek evidence, it can strengthen it.
Thank you to IARS and SOCCA for allowing us to summarize this important coverage from the 2026 Annual Meeting.