Kim Downey
Kim Downey is a physical therapist, cancer survivor, author, speaker, and podcast host who has become a fierce advocate for physician well-being. She is the founder of Stand Up (for) Doctors!, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of physicians, healthcare professionals, and patients by sharing their unique struggles, challenges, triumphs, and passions.
Role in Medicine Forward
Kim joined Medicine Forward in 2023 as the organization’s Community Ambassador, bringing her personal perspective as both a healthcare professional and patient to the movement. Her contributions include:
- Community Engagement: Acts as a bridge between physicians, patients, and advocates, ensuring that Medicine Forward reflects diverse voices and lived experiences.
- Advocacy for Physician Well-Being: Highlights stories of physician burnout, moral injury, and resilience, helping to reframe the conversation around healthcare transformation.
- Storytelling and Media: Uses her podcast, YouTube channel, and Substack newsletter to extend Medicine Forward’s mission by spotlighting authentic stories of connection and hope.
- Patient-Clinician Partnership: Promotes the importance of supporting physicians so they, in turn, can provide the highest quality care for patients.
- Current Role: Kim serves as the Community Ambassador at Medicine Forward, guiding outreach and storytelling efforts that build connection and drive advocacy.
Background and Advocacy
Kim’s advocacy is shaped by her dual identity as a physical therapist and three-time cancer survivor. She draws on these experiences to amplify physician voices and call for cultural and systemic change in healthcare.
- Stand Up (for) Doctors!: Founder of this platform (launched in 2023), which uses podcasts, video, and writing to highlight the human side of medicine and create advocacy for healthy doctors.
- Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation: Serves as an Ambassador, advocating for improved access to mental health care and well-being support for healthcare workers.
- Clinician Burnout Foundation: Appointed Ambassador in 2025, extending her advocacy to address systemic drivers of physician burnout.
- Nuvance Health: Served as a Patient Relations Volunteer Ambassador in 2023, deepening her patient-centered advocacy.
- Physical Therapy Career: Over two decades of practice in pediatric and school-based therapy, including roles with Integrated Pediatric Services, New Milford Public Schools, Preferred Therapy Solutions, and Children’s Therapy Services.
- Special Connections LLC: Served as an RDI Program Consultant, supporting families and children with developmental challenges.
Speaking and Thought Leadership
Through her writing, speaking, and media work, Kim emphasizes:
- The importance of amplifying physician and patient voices to inspire systemic change.
- Addressing clinician burnout and moral injury through advocacy and cultural transformation.
- The role of authentic storytelling in creating connection, purpose, and hope in medicine.
- Patient empowerment as a vital component of healthcare reform.
External Links
- Stand Up (for) Doctors! YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/@StandUpforDoctors
- Stand Up (for) Doctors! Substack : https://standupfordoctors.substack.com/
- Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation : https://drlornabreen.org/
- Clinician Burnout Foundation : https://clinicianburnoutfoundation.org/
- Kim’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-downey-a9307b72/
Kim Downey continues to amplify the voices of physicians and patients through Stand Up (for) Doctors! and her ambassador roles with leading advocacy organizations, advancing a culture of well-being and connection so healthcare professionals and patients alike can thrive.