Ep47: How Healthcare and Social Media Unite to Create a Healthier America - Dr. Austin Chiang

06/13/24 • 48 min

Is it time to revamp medical education?

This week’s guest, Dr. Austin Chiang, certainly thinks so.

Leading an already distinguished career, Dr. Chiang is a top gastroenterologist, Chief Medical Officer of the Endoscopy division of Medtronics, Founding President of the Association for Healthcare Social Media (AHSM), and the author of recently published Gut: An Owner's Guide.

In addition, his TikTok account alone hosts more than 575,000 followers - which is just one of the social media channels he uses to communicate healthcare information, straight to the people who might need it.

He reflects on how COVID proved to be a turning point in the link between social media and public health outcomes, revealing how healthcare professionals can best use social platforms to create resources for patients, demonstrate the value of science-based practice, and fight misinformation.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.
My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4

Is it time to revamp medical education?

This week’s guest, Dr. Austin Chiang, certainly thinks so.

Previous Episode

Ep46: The Patient-Led Revolution with Susannah Fox

70% of U.S. adults have accessed health information online in the past year.

A revealing statistic, highlighting the increasing reliance on digital resources for healthcare guidance.

As this week’s guest, Susannah Fox, illuminates, patient-led healthcare holds tremendous potential for transforming our health systems. With her extensive experience as a distinguished researcher and former Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Susannah is at the forefront of this revolution.

In this episode, Susannah shares insights from her new book, "Rebel Health," an action-oriented and radically hopeful field guide to an underground, patient-led movement. She explores the roles of seekers, solvers, networkers, and champions within the ecosystem of patient-led healthcare, emphasizing the power of the internet as a place for community, collaboration, and connection.

Susannah discusses how re-imagining the patient-clinician dynamic can counteract misinformation and foster better health outcomes. She highlights the importance of including patients in the development of healthcare tools, warning against repeating past mistakes.

Her message is clear: technology, when used for good, can connect us in powerful ways. "You are not alone," Susannah assures. "There are people who would love to help you if only they knew how to find you."

Together, we can forge new links between innovators and those in power, learn from our past, and harness technology to build a more inclusive, supportive, and effective healthcare system.

Next Episode

Ep48: Case Studies From The Heart - Immigration & Healthcare -Dr. Eric Fethke

Welcome to our third installment of our Case Studies From The Heart series.

In the episode, Dr. Fethke shines a light on the topic of immigrant healthcare, by sharing his own experience successfully treating a young child from Honduras with Turner’s syndrome.

Immigrant healthcare can be a controversial and heavily politicized topic, with arguments from both sides about the best approach to take.

Join us, as Dr. Fethke considers his own call to action - one that he believes reflects the roots of our American principles.

“We should celebrate, not suppress, the diversity of our people.”