In our latest #OurEntrepreneurs profile we meet cohort 8 Clinical Entrepreneur Tiarnán McKeever, medical student and founder of KeSocials.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Tiarnán, founder of KeSocials, and Year 4 Medical Student at the University of Plymouth. My interests lie in optimising digital channels to enhance patient literacy and facilitate effective communication between patients and healthcare professionals across primary and secondary care.
Name: Tiarnán McKeever
Occupation: Medical student and founder of KeSocials
Location: Plymouth
Tell us about your innovation
KeSocials LTD is a healthcare marketing agency led by both healthcare professionals and marketing professionals. We take a healthcare approach to marketing, rather than a marketing approach to healthcare.
Combining our understanding of the needs of both healthcare professionals, and patients, with experts in social media, search-engine optimisation, and advertising, we hope to give healthcare professionals access to marketing services that they can trust and create content that patients can access from reliable sources.
In the UK, over 40% of adults struggle to comprehend health-related information they receive. Reduced health literacy correlates with higher hospital admissions, lower vaccination rates, and even reduced life expectancy. To address this, we focus on creating accessible content. Leveraging the fact that more than 95% of UK residents use social media, we connect patients with their local doctors, providing trustworthy and easily digestible health information.
Why did you apply to join the programme, and what are you most looking forward to?
I discovered that three of our current clients at KeSocials LTD had previously participated in the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP). These individuals, whom I greatly admire for their contributions to healthcare and medical education in the UK, inspired me. Upon learning about their shared experience in the programme, I promptly submitted my application that same evening.
The support I hope to receive includes:
1. Networking opportunities. Having the chance to talk to people about KeSocials, and getting their thoughts and feedback is absolutely invaluable. I’m excited to have more conversations this year with both Clinical and Patient Entrepreneurs.
2. The knowledge and insights provided during the pitstops. After attending the first event virtually, I left with two pages of actionable points and have already implemented changes.
What are your ambitions for the next year?
My ambition is to get closer to answering the following question;
How can we support healthcare professionals to create content in a way that benefits them, so that we can increase the volume of reliable health content online that reaches as many people as possible.
Why do you think innovation is important in healthcare?
Innovation drives healthcare. Having the ability to step outside the box and view current systems in a different light can help drive healthcare improvements on both a micro and macro level. The problems that the NHS faces increase every day, we need innovations that not only solve, but exceed these problems in their net effect on healthcare provision.
How can we find out more?
Please visit our website for more information.