Voices in Medicine: Sharing Knowledge and Amplifying Impact Through Community
At Pinnacle 2024, Dr. Mona Amin—board-certified pediatrician and founder of @pedsdoctalk—shared how she built a $1.8 million online business by focusing on trust, not trends.
She reminded us that in digital education, it’s not about follower counts or flashy growth. It’s about the people on the other side of the screen—and the connection that keeps them coming back.
That’s what makes it work. And that’s what makes it matter.
This full session is available to watch anytime on the Learn at Pinnacle app—and you can earn FREE CE/CME credits for tuning in. Don’t miss your chance to access this, plus hundreds of other empowering sessions for women in medicine from expert speakers you know and love.
Other key topics in the full session include:
Navigating legal and ethical lines in offering health advice online
How Dr. Mona built her team and why she hires from within her community
Handling trolls and creating safe online spaces
How to identify your audience’s pain points and turn them into impactful content
Tips for collaborating with larger platforms and growing through partnerships
Start With Your Purpose and Passion
Dr. Mona Amin’s journey began, like many others in healthcare, with burnout. Seeing 40 patients a day left her questioning her place in medicine. What reconnected her to purpose was something outside of the clinic—speaking directly to parents online. But instead of focusing on numbers, she focused on impact. And that impact starts with knowing your why.
“I created a $1.5 million business online by focusing on the key ingredient that keeps people coming back... fostering connection and community, not just sharing knowledge”
Clarify Your Area of Expertise
For women in medicine, it can be tempting to talk about everything. But online, clarity is credibility. Whether your passion is fertility, functional medicine, pediatric development, or women’s mental health, you have to decide: what do you want to be known for?
Dr. Mona cautions against trying to be everything to everyone:
“I was sharing recipes and crafts... and then I realized: I’m a crappy cook and I’m not a crafty mom. So what am I doing?”
Your first step is to define what only you can offer—and double down on that.
Define Your Ideal Audience
Another key early decision is understanding who you're speaking to. Not everyone will resonate with your message—and that’s not just okay, it’s necessary. Your goal isn’t to please everyone; it’s to attract the right community.
Dr. Mona explains:
“My audience is parents and anyone who works with kids... but I want them to be non-judgmental and down to earth, because that’s the kind of community I’m building. And to build that community, I have to embody those values too.”
Start small. Clarify your purpose. Get specific about who you serve. Then show up for them—consistently and authentically.
Build Community, Not Just Content
There’s a difference between sharing information and creating transformation. Dr. Mona’s online platform grew not just because of what she said—but how she made people feel. Her posts resonated because they met her audience where they were, emotionally and mentally.
“People don’t just want education. They want to feel seen, respected, heard—and sometimes they just want to laugh.”
Speak to Pain Points, Not Just Problems
It’s easy to fall into the trap of presenting medical facts. But people can find information anywhere. What they can’t always find is someone who understands.
For example, instead of simply posting about what to do when a child has a fever, Dr. Mona reframes it:
“Even though I’m a pediatrician, when my kid has a fever, I get it. It’s scary. It’s exhausting. That’s how I start the conversation.”
This emotional resonance is what turns passive readers into loyal community members.
Prioritize Engagement
Engagement is where community begins. Especially when you’re starting out, interacting with your followers is vital.
Mona recommends:
Dedicating 30 minutes daily to reply to comments and DMs
Asking your audience what they want to learn
Creating content that directly responds to those needs
“When someone feels seen in an online education community, they’re more likely to come back—and more likely to share your content.”
Even as her platform has scaled, she and her team still prioritize DM responses and comment threads because the feeling of connection is what makes people stay.
Protect Respectful Spaces
Dr. Mona also emphasizes the importance of creating safe online communities:
“If someone is nasty in my DMs or comments, I block them. And I’ve had so many of them email back, apologizing, asking to rejoin the community.”
Boundaries aren’t just self-care; they’re a leadership strategy. They model the kind of environment you want your followers to experience.
Grow with Intention and Protect Your Energy
Burnout doesn’t end when you leave the clinic—it can follow you online too. That’s why Dr. Mona urges creators to grow with intention.
“Social media can be 24/7. But you will burn yourself out if you don’t define your time limitations and strengths.”
Start on One Platform
Trying to be everywhere from the start is a recipe for overwhelm. Instead, Dr. Mona encourages creators to focus on one platform that fits:
Where your audience actually lives
What you’re naturally good at (video, writing, audio)
She explains:
“I started on Instagram because I was already there. Then I expanded to podcasts, YouTube, and Tiktok—but only once I had the time and help to do it sustainably.”
🌟 Practical Tip: Align your content format with your strengths. If you’re great on camera, video may be your medium. If writing is your thing, focus on captions and blogs.
Don’t Compare, Collaborate
Comparison is a thief of joy—especially online. Instead of measuring yourself against others, reach out and partner.
“In the beginning, I grew by connecting with others in my niche. Now, I invite smaller creators to collaborate with me—to pay it forward.”
This mindset shift—from competition to community—is a hallmark of women in medicine creating something new together.
Reinvest in Your Mission
Dr. Mona’s success didn’t come from chasing virality. It came from reinvesting in her purpose.
“To this day, I don’t take a salary from my business. I use the income to hire, grow, and give back—because this is about something bigger.”
The goal isn’t just more revenue. It’s more impact—with more peace, more purpose, and more power in how you choose to show up in the world.
Conclusion
Dr. Mona Amin’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need millions of followers to make millions of dollars—or to make a real difference. What you need is:
Purpose and clarity: Know your expertise, your passion, and your people
Authentic community: Create a space where your audience feels seen, safe, and heard
Sustainable growth: Focus on long-term impact and protect your energy
You already have the expertise. Now, it’s about using it in a way that aligns with your values—and elevates others in the process.
✨ Next steps:
Clarify your niche: What do you want to be known for?
Choose one platform and commit to it for the next 90 days.
Join other women in medicine creating impact online—watch the full talk and earn free CME on the Learn at Pinnacle app
Let your online presence reflect not just what you know, but who you are. When you lead with heart, everything else follows.
