Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Muellner.
Hi Mike, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
After completing a double major in molecular biology and communication at UCSD in 2008, I sought an opportunity to combine the two disciplines. I spent the next eight years studying medicine and eventually completed internal medicine residency training in 2016. During this time, I developed a love for cameras, lighting, audio, and all things related to digital media production. I was enamored but the potential of digital media to educate and inspire the public in healthcare and science. I have since then devoted my time to creating educational videos for social media platforms and have amassed a following of over 1,100,000 on TikTok and 110,000 on Instagram. I hope to continue to create videos to encourage people to lead active and healthy live by fostering a never-ending curiosity and fervor for science.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey to become a physician is long and difficult. Medical school entails countless hours of studying, sometimes more than six hours per day. Then in residency training, the workweeks are long with very little time off. Sometimes shifts last as long as 24 hours! All of this takes a toll on one’s personal life and ability to keep up with creative pursuits or other interests outside of medicine.
Thankfully, digital media production was there to provide a necessary creative outlet for me. While there were many days when I felt too exhausted to hit the record button and film a video, my need to do something creative in life kept me going back to camera.
Making videos itself has a steep learning curve. My first couple of attempts at filming medical-themed videos were laughably cringeworthy. (They’re still up on my YouTube channel if you need a good laugh). Anyway, I’ve created over 1,000 videos since then eventually learned how to make them better (and hopefully) less cringeworthy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a physician, board certified in internal medicine. I spend my days working as a hospitalist, caring for patients who have very severe illnesses, severe enough to require hospitalization. But when I’m not at work, you can bet I’ll be in my home studio putting together digital media content for my social media channels. I am most proud of short-form videos I have created for TikTok. The videos take on a light-hearted approach to what would otherwise be arduous medical topics including: cardiac physiology, anatomy, nutrition, fitness, and neuroscience to name a few.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love collaborating with anyone interested in promoting health or science-related content. I can be reached via my social media accounts: @mikemuellnermd or via email [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: Mikemuellner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemuellnermd/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mikemuellnermd
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikemuellnermd
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/MikeMuellnerMD
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mikemuellnermd?_t=8WSMsolbZ6Y&_r=1
