1. Using Your Voice for Good
On-Camera Essentials for Physicians
For this workshop, we’ll be focusing on developing your skills for on-camera interviews. We’ll briefly be covering how to further your cause using social media and the various forms of media outlets our leaders have been successful with.

2. How much of an expert are you?
Raise your hand if you’ve ever done a facebook live broadcast
Raise your hand if you’ve ever done a newspaper, magazine or radio interview of any kind
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been behind the camera during an interview or on the production team (radio, tv, podcast, internet)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever taken a selfie
With the popularization of social media and the incredible tools we now have to broadcast our ideas, feelings and experiences--most people are more adept at relaying their stories than they think. So let’s take a moment to find out what our collective experience is so we can best figure out how we can support you in your work.
Believe it or not, all of these examples are a great beginning to understanding how

3. The impact of your white coat
15,000 residents = influence and credibility
CIR is the National Voice of Residents since January we’ve had over 50 press hits!
Physicians are one of the most trusted professions in the country*. Unlike politicians, law makers, bankers and business owners doctors’ primary interest is healing patients. Because of this, when your voice is included in the discussion around healthcare policy, people listen.
*(annual Gallup poll, #3 after Nurses & Pharmacists)

4. What works for you?
What gives an interviewee credibility on camera for you?
When do you feel most connected to someone you’re watching on camera?
What type of stories or voices are missing in the debate around healthcare and the ACA?
While we’re going to share some Do’s and Dont’s of on-camera interviews, it’s important to think about how you’re impacted and use that as a platform to craft your story. So when you’re watching an interview, what speaks to you as an audience member?

5. Make your story powerful
Make it personal – how does this situation impact you? Your patients?
Show the scale of the issue
Explain the urgency – what’s at stake?
Emotion – help people relate to the story
People don’t remember statistics. They remember the story about a working parent who died because they had to choose between going to the doctor to address a worsening issue or feeding his family.
When an issue is widespread, you’re more likely to receive more sympathy because most people will have a personal story or know someone with a story around that issue
What is going to happen if we don’t do something now? News is about the immediate. What’s going to happen, how do we change the course of what happens. If you agree, then do X.
People respond to people, not issues and causes--while those may be we they are involved, it was a personal story that impacted them to begin with.

6. Do’s & Dont’s Do: Stick to your message Know your audience
Have message points
Talk in sound bites – pause after 30 seconds
Answer question, then Transfer to Message: “What the real question is…”
Don’t:
Use jargon or overly clinical language
Overuse statistics
Violate HIPAA or hospital policies (duh)
Talk too fast
Do:
By sticking to your message and constantly bringing the issue back to the forefront.
Don’ts:
Assume that your audience reads at a 6th grade level. That’s the average of most adult’s reading level in this country so you want to speak clearly, simply, directly and emotionally. No jargon, and use accessible language.

7. For on-camera interviews:
Wear comfortable clothes (like your scrubs or white coat!)
Avoid stripes or small checks. Solid dark colors or pastels are best
Don’t look directly at the camera – look at the interviewer
Rephrase the question in your answer
Don’t fidget

8. 4 Things to remember:
Remember to use the phrase “As a doctor, I believe (have witnessed/think/know, etc.) that…”
If you don’t know the answer to something, say so.
Use your white coat, it’s one of the few things that distinguishes you as a healthcare professional from others speaking.
Don’t be afraid to show emotion
Your expertise matters
If it is a question about a particular policy or politician, you’re response can be “I’m a doctor, I treat patients and what I do know is…”
Use your white coat!
it’s not often that the general public gets to see doctors being sympathetic or being personal about the issues that they address everyday.

9. Now it’s your turn! Choose one.
Give a brief interview that answers the following question:
How are the following issues coming between you and your patients?
(Create 3-4 talking points)
Examples:
How does lack of insurance and possible repeal of the ACA affect your patients?
How are Trump’s immigration policies affecting your patients or fellow residents?
Break up into groups of 2
Remember your talking points should be short, to the point and in simple language.

10. Conclusion
Visit for links to op-eds from your colleagues on a number of issues ranging from gun control to immigration, racism and sexism in medicine, and abuse of housestaff.
If there’s a story you want to tell, contact us at
If there are local papers or even national ones that you’d like to submit op-eds to or interviews you’d like to offer but you want support feel fre to contact us at Heather’s happy to help you write your pieces or edit or even pitch stories in your community