Burrell College Launches “Hey, Teach Me Something” Campaign
Faculty and student doctors bring medical terminology to life!
Burrell College of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine (BCSOM) is making medical terminology a little easier, and a lot more engaging, with the launch of a new social media campaign called “Hey, Teach Me Something.”
Throughout the month of October, Burrell College physicians and student doctors will take to social media to explain medical terms in short, easy-to-understand videos designed for both the Burrell community and the general public.
The medical terminology featured in the campaign is based on information from MedlinePlus, a health information resource from the National Library of Medicine, helping ensure the definitions shared are grounded in a trusted and authoritative source.
The campaign features a range of topics, from somatic dysfunction and acute otitis media to hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, spinal stenosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Michael Woods, PhD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Pathology at Burrell, said the campaign offers a creative way to make medical education more approachable.
“Medical terminology can sometimes feel intimidating, especially to someone who is just beginning to learn the language of medicine,” Woods said. “This campaign gives us an opportunity to introduce those terms in a fun, unique and accessible way while showing that learning medicine can be engaging.”
The series begins October 9, 2026, with Daniel Dodson, DO, explaining somatic dysfunction.
“One of the most important parts of medical education is learning how to take something complex and explain it clearly,” Dr. Dodson said. “This series gives us an opportunity to do that in a way that is quick, approachable and useful to people both inside and outside of medicine.”
Brett Picciotti, DO, who will discuss counterstrain later in the month, said the campaign also provides an opportunity to highlight concepts that are particularly important in osteopathic medicine.
“There are many medical concepts that students hear every day but that the public may never have had explained to them,” Dr. Picciotti said. “Being able to break those ideas down in a simple way helps people better understand the language physicians use and the way we approach patient care.”
Burrell student doctors are also taking part in the campaign, providing their own explanations of medical terms they encounter throughout their education.
Student physician Alexa Guerrero-Alba, who will explain acute otitis media, said participating in the campaign is another way for students to strengthen their communication skills.
“As future physicians, we have to be able to explain medical information in a way our patients can understand,” Guerrero-Alba said. “This is a fun way for us to practice that skill while sharing something educational with the community.”
Student physician Joshua Ramirez, who will discuss paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, said the campaign helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the public.
“We spend so much time learning medical terminology as students, but these are also words patients may hear during a visit with their physician,” Ramirez said. “Being able to explain what those terms mean in everyday language is an important part of becoming a doctor.”
For Sidney Alvarez, AVP of Marketing and Communications at Burrell College of Health Sciences, the campaign represents something bigger than a social media series.
“This campaign isn’t just about helping our students become more comfortable with medical terminology,” Alvarez said. “It’s about taking the knowledge that exists within our classrooms and sharing it in a public format. If we can use our social media platforms to make medical information easier to understand and help educate the broader community, then we’re extending our educational mission well beyond the walls of the College.”
Alvarez said the organic nature of the campaign is intentional.
“We wanted this to feel conversational,” Alvarez said. “The idea behind ‘Hey, Teach Me Something’ is simple: you have a physician or student doctor in front of you, so why not ask them to teach you something? It gives our audiences an opportunity to learn while also getting to know the people who make up the Burrell community.”
The “Hey, Teach Me Something” campaign will run throughout October on Burrell College of Health Sciences’ social media channels.
October Schedule
- October 9: Dr. Dodson — Somatic Dysfunction
- October 12: Alexa Guerrero-Alba — Acute Otitis Media
- October 16: Andreya Hesser — Hypothyroidism
- October 19: Joshua Ramirez — Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
- October 23: Hannah Fahuna — Hyperlipidemia
- October 26: Dr. Picciotti — Counterstrain
- October 28: Kevin Pham — Spinal Stenosis
- October 30: Kaelyn Darden — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Follow Burrell College of Health Sciences throughout October on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, LinkedIn and X to watch all our “Hey, Teach Me Something” videos.
