Communication lessons from a millennial with cystic fibrosis

Health care messaging and education doesn’t always come from sterile hospital settings and high-level stakeholders.

Savvy communicators understand the need for a face on a story. Claire Wineland has taken it upon herself to deliver just that.

The 19-year-old social media sensation, founder of Claire’s Place Foundation, has been using Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube to share her personal struggle with cystic fibrosis. Wineland says she was “supposed to die” a few years ago from the chronic and incurable respiratory and digestive condition. She remains upbeat and talks with determination about turning 21 so she can go clubbing.

WORKSHOP: Use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram to get huge results.

Wineland’s goal is to “normalize death” with her videos and social media presence. Her YouTube channel—dubbed “The Clairity Project”—features the spunky young woman bouncing around on stage (with her oxygen tubes and tank) at a Zappos presentation, lying sick in a hospital bed and teasing her younger sister at home.

Wineland who has delivered a TED talk, has gained recognition in traditional media, scoring interviews with CNN, Inside Edition,Seventeen, Cosmopolitan and People magazines. This year, World of Children recognized Claire’s Place Foundation as one of its 2016 honorees for “improving the lives of vulnerable children by funding and elevating the most effective change makers for children worldwide.”

What can the Los Angeles native teach health care communicators about crafting messages and resonating with the public? It’s the human factor. Look at Wineland’s many offerings to see which tactics might apply to your daily work. 

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