Out of Patients EP406: Pediatric Engineering for the Rest of Us: Dr. Jamie Wells
Jamie Wells doesn’t fit into your LinkedIn boxes. Physician. Educator. Policy wonk. Bioethicist. Blockchain ambassador. Director of MIT’s RSI program. And now, author of A Clinical Lens on Pediatric Engineering. She’s the unicorn’s unicorn—and one of the few people I trust to speak fluently across medicine, tech, policy, and what actually works for patients.
I brought her back on Out of Patients because she’s the kind of mind we need more of: fearless, funny, overqualified, and allergic to bullshit. We talked about everything from gene therapies and drug repurposing to why kids hate taking medicine and how a teenager once went viral for calling her the coolest doctor alive. She’s brilliant. She’s weird. And she makes topics like pediatric radiology and AI feel like edge-of-your-seat cinema.
She reminded me why one-size-fits-all medicine has always been a lazy cop-out. Kids aren’t tiny adults. You can’t shrink a system designed for 70kg white dudes and expect it to work. Jamie’s book—and this episode—lays out a blueprint for actually doing something about that.
There’s also an extended riff on the worst-tasting meds, bubblegum-flavored compliance, and the ridiculous ways health systems still ignore the “end user.” Spoiler: it’s the kid.
Matthew Zachary
Producer
Dubbed "The People's Voice in Healthcare" by People Magazine, Matthew Zachary turned a brain cancer diagnosis at 21 into a global movement for patient empowerment. He beat the odds and became a powerhouse advocate for patient rights, giving a voice to millions overlooked by traditional healthcare.
As the founder of Stupid Cancer, he launched the young adult cancer movement, pioneering a new era of patient advocacy. In 2007, he created The Stupid Cancer Show—the first-ever healthcare talk radio show before podcasts were even a thing—building a global community for cancer survivors.
His groundbreaking podcast Out of Patients and the award-winning documentary The Cancer Mavericks cemented him as the "Podfather of Healthcare" and one of the most trusted, irreverent voices in the industry.
Now, as Principal of Matthew Zachary Worldwide, he leads a media, consulting, and think tank agency disrupting healthcare marketing with bold, empathy-driven storytelling. His work spans digital health, life sciences, entertainment, and nonprofit advocacy—challenging the system, amplifying patient voices, and driving real change.
With millions of downloads, hundreds of keynotes, and a sharp GenX edge that blends wit with wisdom, Matthew empowers patients to reclaim their stories while helping organizations embrace authentic, lived-experience storytelling.
Matthew is also... still standing.
Out of Patients EP405: Pinky Swear: Erica Campbell and The Wanted Mastectomy
