Brand Partnerships for Doctors That Actually Make Sense with Dr. Kara Wada | EP 40

What happens when a physician turns her own health journey into a mission to help others feel seen, informed, and supported? In this episode, Dr. Kara Wada shares how her Sjögren’s diagnosis changed the course of her career, leading her from academic medicine to building the Immune Confident Institute and a growing media presence. She opens up about using lifestyle medicine, education, and brand partnerships to reach more people with complex chronic conditions. Kara also talks about working with pharma in an ethical way, choosing partnerships that truly fit her values, and creating a business that supports both her patients and her family life. This is an honest, hopeful conversation about purpose, trust, health, and building a career that fits the life you want.Dr. Kara Wada is a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in pediatric and adult allergy/immunology and lifestyle medicine. She cares for patients at the intersection of allergies, autoimmunity, and complex chronic illness, with a focus on conditions such as Sjögren’s disease, mast cell disorders, hypermobility, and dysautonomia. After serving on faculty at Ohio State, she left academic medicine in January 2025 and opened her own practice, the Immune Confident Institute, in March 2025. Dr. Wada also founded the Virtual Sjögren’s Summit to connect patients with education, support, and emerging treatment information. Living with Sjögren’s disease herself, she brings both clinical expertise and personal insight to her work, using media, education, and advocacy to help patients better understand their health and rebuild trust in care.Connect with Dr. Kara WadaWebsite: https://www.drkarawada.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karawadamd/YT: https://www.youtube.com/@drkarawadaGrab Amy’s free pricing guide: https://masterthemedia.co/pricing-guide/Episode highlights:(0:00) Intro(1:53) Kara’s medical background and practice(4:07) Her Sjögren’s diagnosis and family wake-up call(9:10) Using media to build trust with patients(14:41) Brand partnerships with purpose(23:56) Ethical pharma collaborations(31:11) Partnerships with Canopy and Native(36:09) Family, business, and getting support at home(43:00) Key takeaways(46:27) Where to find Kara(47:38) OutroSupport the showMaster the Media for Dietitians, Physicians & Healthcare Professionals Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mediamasterywithamyDietitians on the Blog Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/789355101157569Need a Guest Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/264636544981623If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a tip on growing your income and impact through the media! And if you’re feeling extra generous, leave a review—it helps more healthcare pros like you find the show. Thanks for being here—I can’t wait to hang out with you again next time!