Kevin Pho, MD, is a practicing, board-certified internal medicine physician and the founder and editor of KevinMD, which he built from scratch in 2004 to give clinicians and patients a place to be heard. Over two decades, it has become one of the most recognizable physician-led publications in health care, drawing more than 7 million annual page views and over 500,000 followers across social media. He still sees patients in primary care in Nashua, New Hampshire, the practice he says keeps the platform honest.
He is the host of The Podcast by KevinMD, a daily, 15-minute show that has surpassed 2,000 episodes and 2.6 million IAB-certified downloads, featuring physicians, patients, caregivers, founders, and health care leaders in conversation about what they actually see and do. He is also a national media commentator and the coauthor of Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices.
An acclaimed keynote speaker, Kevin speaks nationwide to clinicians and non-clinicians on health care, digital media, physician leadership, and burnout. His signature keynote, "Connect and be heard: Make a difference in health care with social media," traces his social media journey since 2004 and inspires audiences to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, make their voices heard in health reform, and turn the tide against clinician burnout. He is the founder of Physician Speaking by KevinMD, a physician-run speakers bureau, and is available for speaking opportunities.
Kevin earned his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency at Boston University Medical Center. The New York Times called KevinMD "a highly-coveted publishing place for doctors and patients," and Forbes called it a "must-read health blog." He is an inductee of the Healthcare Internet Hall of Fame, a recipient of the American Medical Writers Association McGovern Award, and a New Hampshire Magazine Top Doctor.
Vox’s Julia Belluz wrote a nice article explaining why doctors overprescribe antibiotics. She essentially gives two reasons: doctors unsure of the diagnosis want to be “safe,” and patient demand.
But there’s a third reason that’s an extension of demand: patient satisfaction.
More patients have to take time off work to see their clinician, only to spend a few minutes in the exam room. Those who take that inconvenience likely won’t want a lecture on …
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Reduce antibiotic use through patient empowerment
Did you hear about that recent, groundbreaking study on defensive medicine? Probably not. The sites where I regularly read health policy news — Vox, the Incidental Economist, and the Upshot, for instance — all failed to mention it. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)
Published in the British Medical Journal, researchers found that doctors who charged more, presumably by ordering more tests, were sued less often: “In six … specialties, a greater use of …
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A study shows defensive medicine may reduce medical liability. Why was it ignored?
Thank you for your feedback regarding Healthcare Not Fair’s latest video, “Ms. Fatty.”
First off, I encourage a diversity of opinions on KevinMD, and please note that I don’t necessarily endorse all the content that I post.
Now, regarding the video. The sentiment presented is shared, unfortunately, by a number a physicians, and the satire was posted to ignite discussion regarding how some doctors perceive obese patients in the exam room. To that extent, posting the video …
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Dr. Sorry’s video has been removed
On July 7th, 2015, I cross-posted an article from “Hope Amantine,” a pseudoanonymous surgeon who previously blogged at Simple Country Surgeon: “A lesson in the OR that prepared this doctor to be a surgeon.”
On July 8th, 2015, 11 a.m. Eastern, I was notified by an editor at MedPage Today about the controversy questioning the truthfulness of the story.
I then reached out to “Hope,” asking whether her story was fictional or not. I …
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I removed the Hope Amantine story
A continuing series on physician online reputation. For more KevinMD minutes, please visit my YouTube channel.
Here is one question I get a lot: “How often should doctors blog?”
Well, it could be once a week, once a month, once every two weeks; there is no set number. But it should be a number that you have to stick with for at least six months.
Too often, I hear doctors …
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How often should doctors blog?
A continuing series on physician online reputation. Created in partnership with The Doctors Company as part of their social media resources for physicians.
Let’s talk about three ways that physicians can use social media today.
The first way is to filter information. More patients than ever are going online to research their diagnosis and treatment options but sometimes the information that they’re reading online isn’t always the …
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3 ways doctors can use social media today
