with @FriendlyFamDoc: Why Doctors in Germany Can’t Create Content Like U.S. Physicians

In this episode of I Did My Own Research, Dr. Fran sits down with her sister, board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Victoria Hasselhof, for a conversation about practicing medicine across two countries, navigating medical misinformation online, and what patients are really looking for from doctors in the social media era.

Dr. Hasselhof shares her unique path through medical school in Germany, residency in the United States, and five years working as a locums physician everywhere from rural South Dakota to remote Molokai, Hawaii. Together, the sisters compare the striking differences between the U.S. and German healthcare systems — including how physicians are regulated online, why German doctors can’t advertise products, and how access to care shapes the way patients seek medical information.

They also dive into the realities of being physician content creators, the rise of wellness misinformation, vaccine myths, “low testosterone” content targeted at men, and why nuance in medicine rarely goes viral. Along the way, they make the case for family medicine as one of the most important — and misunderstood — specialties in healthcare.

From bone-smashing TikTok trends to thoughtful conversations about trust, science, and patient care, this episode explores what happens when evidence-based medicine collides with the algorithm.

Dr. Hasselhof's social media: @FriendlyFamDoc

Dr. Fran's social media: @PagingDrFran