235 Communication is our Thing with Dr. Todd Wolynn

Communication Is Our Thing: Dr. Todd Wolyn on Vaccine Misinformation, Online Attacks, and Training Trusted Messengers

In this Pediatric Lounge episode, hosts interview nationally recognized pediatrician and vaccine advocate Dr. Todd Wolyn, co-founder and former CEO of Kids Plus Pediatrics in Pittsburgh, about communication in pediatric care. Wolyn shares why he chose pediatrics, how Kids Plus grew from a small practice to three offices with expanded services like a regional breastfeeding center and the free, community-based “New Moms Coffee” support groups. He recounts creating an HPV vaccine PSA in 2017 that drew a coordinated global anti-vaccine social media attack, leading to research, a clinician toolkit, and the not-for-profit Shots Heard Around the World. The discussion critiques reliance on talking points and limited communication training, explores why vaccine concerns vary along a continuum, and introduces Wolyn’s Trusted Messenger program, including free CME and a June launch of a train-the-trainer institute using the AIMS methodology.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:55 Why Pediatrics
02:25 Meeting Seth and Thinking Bigger
04:42 Building Kids Plus Pediatrics
05:53 New Moms Coffee Community
07:56 Shots Heard Around World Origins
11:54 Online Attacks and COVID Echoes
15:11 HPV Uptake and Vaccine Baggage
21:50 Why Communication Training Fails
27:45 Curiosity With Resistant Families
30:14 Vaccine Concern Spectrum
32:52 Practice Policies and Trust
37:24 Natural vs Liberty Beliefs
40:03 Talking Points Backlash
46:50 Better Vaccine Messaging
49:28 Trusted Messenger Mission
51:54 Scaling Trust Locally
59:04 Training the Trainers
01:01:57 Wrap Up and Credits