Aurelio Rojas, the Cardiologist from Malaga with 600,000 Followers

A cardiologist at the Regional Hospital of Malaga, Aurelio Rojas has recently become a viral voice on social media. He has turned his medical knowledge into informative snippets that a legion of followers consumes daily: more than 600,000 on Instagram alone (@doctorrojass). At 35, his online presence has grown since last October with the same ease with which he discusses health, nutrition, and lifestyle. "I am a cheerful and simple person," he confesses, and it is this authenticity that partly explains his success, which is based on three pillars: scientific rigor, transparency, and entertainment.

Born in Malaga, but with roots in Jaen (his family is from Alcaudete), Rojas has been immersed in medicine since birth. His mother, a pediatrician, never told him to follow in her footsteps, but eventually, the environment took its toll. He studied at the Faculty of Medicine in Malaga, where he soon excelled. He scored very high on the MIR (a Spanish medical exam), which allowed him to choose. "My first choice was Neurosurgery, and although you are advised never to change your priorities, I did, and at the last moment, I opted for Cardiology. I do not regret it, I would do it again," he states.

After finishing his degree, he wanted to expand his training outside Spain and learn about other health systems. He did this in New York, at Lenox Hill Hospital. There, he delved into the management of minimally invasive cardiac interventional procedures and after that experience, he returned to Malaga convinced that his place was here. Specifically, at the Regional Hospital, where he was hired after completing his specialized training and where he currently works in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure, valvular diseases, and cardiomyopathies, in addition to training new interns.

Family-oriented, approachable, extroverted, private, humble, and a pleasure-seeker. This is how he appears on social media, this single thirty-something with no children: he explains an electrocardiogram or how lack of sleep impacts the body, posts a video coming off a shift, at the gym, or with the dog that his parents look after in Marbella.

What started almost by accident—a photo celebrating the publication of a book he wrote with another doctor on cardiac imaging—turned into a health dissemination platform that gained 350,000 followers in just three months. "I posted that photo with my friend and it received thousands of 'likes'. I thought that maybe I could help more people this way."

It took him a while to embrace the label of 'influencer', because he initially never believed that his messages would reach such a large audience. "I receive messages from people who have started to take care of themselves, to exercise, to eat better thanks to what I share. If that's being an 'influencer', then I am one, but with a scientific basis."

And the fact is, Rojas doesn't improvise. He records, edits, and writes the content he publishes himself. "I don't have help from anyone. This is like my child, and I take care of it with care." His standard is rigor. He rejects between 70 and 80% of the collaboration proposals he receives, especially if they are not aligned with his medical principles. "I will not promote anything that does not have a scientific basis or is not safe. I do not cross that line."

His dual role as a doctor and communicator is not without sacrifices. Free time has decreased, and he admits that sometimes he also feels stressed. "I always say that I see about 40 hearts a day, and many of these problems come from stress. It raises blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, weight... It's not easy to get rid of stress, but it is possible to change habits so that the impact on our body is less, such as taking care of our diet, exercising, and improving rest. People normalize living like this, but the body pays the price." He practices what he preaches: he exercises, reads (he is currently reading 'The Secret Supper' by Javier Sierra), meditates, and indulges in a gastronomic treat now and then. "You don't have to be perfect 100% of the time; taking care of yourself 90% is enough. I also eat churros sometimes, even a donut, and I share it on social networks." Among his hobbies? Going to the beach "like a good Malagueño" and watching science fiction series.

His limited free time is mainly dedicated to generating content, because he believes that helping others is part of the medical vocation. "It has been a snowball that has been growing, and what was initially just an Instagram profile, now I have added a YouTube channel, courses to help improve lifestyle, and a podcast where I interview other health communicators who can offer different perspectives. And without profit," assures this doctor who is aware that making economic gains from selling treatments on social networks is an "extremely sensitive" issue.

In his videos, he appears natural, direct, often funny, and sometimes flirtatious. He has learned to make them self-taught, although he does not deny that technology has helped him. In them, he talks about rest, nutrition, exercise, stress. All from a medical authority, but without the usual distance. "I think one of the mistakes in consultation is to appear inaccessible. The white coat already creates barriers. Showing myself as a normal person has brought me closer to people." He has even interviewed characters with whom he does not share an approach, but with a clear objective: to debunk myths and hoaxes through dialogue. "I do not agree with them, but you have to understand why so many people believe them. And explain why they are wrong."

His hospital colleagues, far from criticizing his public facet, have supported him. "We spend many hours here, good and bad, and that unites us. I have never received a negative comment from my colleagues, although I have received some jokes," he notes. He prides himself on not having 'haters,' and the street, the subway, or the consultation are now places where people stop him to ask for a photo. "People are very kind. And if I can help from here or from Instagram, I do it just the same."

Rojas believes that doctors should be present on social networks. "If we are health references in real life, we should also be so on the Internet. You don't have to be special, just be yourself."

Beyond the algorithms, his purpose is clear: to improve lives, whether in the hospital or recommending breathing five minutes a day to calm the mind. "Helping is part of the medical vocation. And not just from a consultation."