Conversations, Not Campaigns: The Art of Authentic Engagement in Healthcare

“Conversations, Not Campaigns: The Art of Authentic Engagement in Healthcare”

In this episode, hosts Dr. Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Colin Hung — healthcare technologist, marketing strategist, and co-founder of the long-running #HCLDR (Healthcare Leadership) Twitter community. Colin shares his journey from biomedical engineering to becoming one of the most respected community builders in digital health.

Together, they explore what authentic engagement really looks like in the healthcare and pharma industries — from how companies can move beyond broadcasting to truly listening, to how AI can support rather than replace human connection in patient advocacy.

• From Engineer to Connector: How Colin’s early career in biomedical engineering shaped his systems-thinking approach to digital health.

• Building #HCLDR: The story behind one of the most influential online healthcare communities — what made it work, and how it evolved over 13 years.

• Conversation > Communication: Why genuine listening and empathy are more powerful than any marketing message in healthcare engagement.

• Pharma’s Challenge: How manufacturers can engage meaningfully online despite regulatory constraints — and why showing up as people first matters most.

• AI in Healthcare: The promise and pitfalls of AI in patient engagement — and how to use it responsibly to empower, not replace, the human touch.

• The Future of Digital Communities: What comes next for online healthcare engagement now that #HCLDR has passed the torch to new community creators.

Colin Hung is a healthcare technologist, community strategist, and co-founder of the #HCLDR community. With more than 25 years in health IT, Colin has been a driving force in bringing together patients, clinicians, and innovators to discuss the future of care. He’s also a writer, speaker, and advocate for inclusive, patient-centered technology.

🔗 Connect with Colin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhung/

• Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/Colin_Hung

• #HCLDR (Healthcare Leadership) — A global online healthcare leadership community founded in 2012 that brought together patients, providers, and industry leaders for weekly discussions on improving healthcare.
  🔗 https://hcldr.wordpress.com
  🔗 https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HCLDR

Find The RealPharma Podcast on:

• Spotify

• Apple Podcasts

• Google Podcasts