What Happens When a Pediatrician Takes On Congress - Dr. Annie Andrews on Turning Clinical Advocacy into Political Action

Episode 41 • 14th August 2025 • How I Doctor with Dr. Graham Walker • Offcall

Dr. Annie Andrews is a pediatric hospitalist, public health advocate, and U.S. Senate candidate in South Carolina taking on incumbent Lindsey Graham. Known for her unapologetic advocacy for children’s health, Annie has spent over 15 years caring for sick and injured kids, only to realize that many of their challenges stemmed from broken policies far upstream of the hospital. From gun violence prevention to protecting Medicaid, she’s made it her mission to bring a physician’s voice into the rooms where decisions are made and to speak with a candor rarely heard in politics.

In this episode of How I Doctor, Dr. Graham Walker talks with Annie about why more physicians should step into public life, how to fight misinformation without losing credibility, and the communication skills doctors already have that translate to the campaign trail. They dig into the gender inequities baked into medicine and why telling patient stories matters more than citing p-values. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn clinical advocacy into real political action, Annie’s story will make the case that there’s never been a more important time for doctors to run toward the fire.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The skills every physician already has that translate to political leadership
How to fight misinformation without sounding like you’re in an ivory tower
Why gender inequities in medicine persist even in female-dominated specialties
The role of storytelling in rebuilding public trust in physicians
What politicians would learn if they were required to spend a day in a children’s hospital

Find out more about Annie here and connect with her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/annieandrewsmd/

Watch her campaign launch video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wMNLaSNW4

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