Nov. 10, 2025

Doctors Making a Difference: Patricia Egwuatu, DO

For Patricia Egwuatu, DO, a family physician at Kaiser Permanente's Capitol Hill clinic in Seattle, having conversations about evidence-based health information through her Instagram and TikTok accounts came as a natural extension of her commitment to advocacy and education. Her reach on social media has led to an even bigger platform: As a regular contributor on Fox 13's "Healthy Living" television segment, she's aiming to start conversations about topics that often don't make it out of the exam room and help the public make informed decisions about their health. She talked with WSMA Reports about what led her to the role and why physicians continue to be the best messengers for fact-based health care information.

WSMA Reports: How did your role as a contributor to Fox 13's "Healthy Living" segment come about and why did you decide to do it?

Dr. Egwuatu: My interest in becoming a medical media correspondent started during residency. At the time, my sister was in medical school, and we often had conversations about our journeys and how we could encourage others to pursue careers in medicine. As Black female physicians, who represent only about 2% of the workforce, and as daughters of immigrants, we felt inspired to share our upbringing and experiences. That led us to start an Instagram account, which gained traction, opened doors to interviews, and gave us a platform to highlight our voices.

At the same time, I was deeply engaged in health equity work through my role as associate program director of equity, inclusion, and diversity. I began using social media, including Instagram and TikTok, to share evidence-based health information and connect with the community. That growing engagement in medical media, along with my work at Kaiser Permanente, ultimately led to the opportunity with Fox 13's "Healthy Living" segment.

I chose to do the segment because it allows me to extend my passion for advocacy and education beyond the clinic. It's a meaningful way to engage with the broader community while providing accessible, evidence-based health information that empowers people to make informed decisions about their health.

What topics do you feel are most important to be talking about in this context?

I think some of the most important topics to highlight are the conversations that often happen in the doctor's office but don't always make it into broader community discussions. Many people are looking for reliable information yet don't always know where to turn. For example, breast cancer screening or discussions around hormone testing and hormone replacement therapy are questions I frequently encounter. Segments like these are a valuable way to bring that information to the public in an accessible, evidence-based format so individuals feel empowered when making decisions about their health.

With limited time on air, how do you get the information across in a way that will be impactful for a broad audience?

I'm fortunate to have a great team at Kaiser Permanente that helps guide, research, and provide evidence-based information for each topic, which I then tailor with my own expertise. To make sure the message is impactful for a broad audience, I draw on my media training to present the information in a clear and digestible way. I also practice with my partner and my sister, who remind me to communicate as if I'm speaking directly to them making the conversation relatable and accessible.

Why do you think it's important to have a physician be the messenger for these types of public health topics?

Physicians are often viewed as a trusted source of information. We have the knowledge and expertise to provide evidence-based guidance, and that credibility helps ensure people feel confident in the information they're receiving, especially when it comes to making decisions about their health.

What are some challenges you see in reaching people with evidence-based public health information?

One of the biggest challenges is the sheer amount of information available today. People are constantly exposed to health messages from so many different sources, and not all of them are accurate. That can make it difficult to cut through the noise and highlight reliable, evidence-based information in a way that resonates with the public.

This article was featured in the November/December 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.