What Happens When a Pediatrician Takes On Congress - Dr. Annie Andrews on Turning Clinical Advocacy into Political Action
Dr. Annie Andrews has spent over 15 years as a pediatric hospitalist, caring for children on some of the worst days of their lives - kids facing chronic illness, gunshot wounds, and the daily toll of poverty. Over time, she realized that many of these crises could be traced upstream to broken policies, not just broken bodies. Instead of accepting those failures as inevitable, Annie decided to run for public office. First for Congress and now for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina, taking on incumbent Lindsey Graham. Fierce, unapologetic, and unafraid to “throw sharp elbows” on behalf of children, she’s bringing a physician’s perspective to a political arena she says is desperately short on science, empathy, and truth.
On this episode of How I Doctor, Dr. Graham Walker talks with Annie about why more physicians need to step into politics, how to combat misinformation without losing credibility, and the communication skills that make doctors uniquely suited to lead. They tackle the gender inequities still baked into medicine, the role of storytelling in rebuilding trust, and why Annie believes pediatricians are among the last, best messengers in a skeptical public. From confronting RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine rhetoric to calling for systemic solutions instead of policy “band-aids,” this conversation is a blueprint for turning clinical advocacy into political action.
If you’ve ever wondered how your medical training could be applied beyond the hospital walls, Annie’s story is proof that those skills are not only transferable but that they’re desperately needed. Here are the lessons Annie’s learned from years of practicing medicine, running for office, and speaking out on some of the most contentious issues in healthcare.
From the Bedside to the Ballot: Why Physicians Make Strong Political Leaders
“I have to develop trust with these parents in a matter of minutes… and that is an incredibly complex social interaction that doctors take for granted because we do it all day every day. If you can do that well… then you can certainly get out on the campaign trail and talk to voters about what their problems are.”
Years of walking into high-stakes situations, earning trust in minutes, and communicating clearly under pressure make physicians uniquely equipped for public service. Annie argues that the same skills she used to build rapport with families in crisis now help her connect with voters and navigate the political arena. For doctors, she says, leadership outside of medicine isn’t a leap it’s a natural extension of the work they already do.
Combating Misinformation with Credibility
“My opinion is not an opinion, it’s a… evidence-based recommendation. But we can’t do it in this ivory tower, ‘I’m right because I’m a doctor’ kind of way.”
Misinformation thrives when expertise is presented as just another “opinion.” Annie believes the key to pushing back is consistency, relatability, and storytelling without retreating into medical jargon or an air of superiority. By pairing evidence with emotion, physicians can reach audiences who might otherwise tune them out.
When More Women Doesn’t Mean More Equality: The Gender Gap in Medicine
“It wasn’t until my most recent job that I ever had a female boss…There’s still so much gender inequity baked into the practice of medicine.”
Even in pediatrics, where the majority of physicians are women, men still dominate leadership roles and pay disparities persist. Annie connects this inequity to larger systemic biases and points out that representation at the top is critical to changing policy and culture. Her experience underscores that gender inequity isn’t just a problem in male-heavy specialties—it’s embedded across the profession.
Read Offcall’s latest report on the gender pay gap in Emergency Medicine
Annie Andrews’ journey from pediatric hospitalist to U.S. Senate candidate is a reminder that the skills physicians use every day - building trust, communicating clearly, and solving complex problems - are just as critical in public life as they are in medicine. For clinicians frustrated by a broken healthcare system, her story offers both a roadmap and an invitation: your voice matters, and the time to use it is now.
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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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