Dr. Preeya Alexander: How I approach healthcare

Dr Preeya Alexander wears many hats. A General Practitioner and medical educator, she also founded the blog The Wholesome Doctor to combat medical misinformation on the internet. We chat with Dr Preeya to learn more about what drives her, as well as her unique approach to healthcare.

In medical school, I always thought I was going to specialise as a geriatrician or a rheumatologist. But when I was 18 months into my hospital training, I realised I wanted to do something different in the medical field. I decided to go down the path of general practice and medical education – and it turned out to be a perfect fit. 

If I was a superhero, my superpower would be dissecting complex medical information so the community – from my patients to my audience on The Wholesome Doctor – can easily understand it.

To me, good healthcare looks like a healthy, therapeutic relationship between doctor and patient. Doctors shouldn’t be paternalistic; they should be relatable and understanding, and should empower people with knowledge to make choices about their own health. It’s important for patients to be involved in the decision-making process, especially when it involves treatment or changes to their lifestyle. For example, a new combination of exercise and diet is something a doctor can discuss with their patient, rather than just writing up a strict plan for the patient to follow.

This empowers and motivates patients to take care of their own health – which is one of many core principles I have in common with AIA Vitality.

Social media has led many to believe that being ‘healthy’ means a flat stomach, a thigh gap and a body that resembles a Pilates instructor’s. It’s made the goal – being healthy – unrealistic and unattainable for a lot of people.

In reality, good health is multifaceted and about much more than how you look. A true health gauge is holistic and considers all aspects of your life – even elements like caffeine intake and sleep quality – rather than simply looking at your BMI and body fat percentage.

I always remind my patients and audience on The Wholesome Doctor that taking care of yourself isn’t as difficult as you might think – if we break it down into small, actionable steps backed by scientific evidence.

In 2016, my husband and I read an article suggesting that increasing avocado consumption could cure cancer. We’re both doctors, and we knew the article wasn’t true. Around the same time, many patients were coming to me to fact-check dodgy health information they encountered on social media. This was when I knew there was a real need for solid, reliable healthcare knowledge coming from a qualified source.

When I started posting on The Wholesome Doctor website and Instagram, I focussed on bite-sized building blocks to help people make important lifestyle changes. I try to inject a little humour and personality in these posts, because that’s who I am. It’s an important part of this project – reminding people that healthcare can be fun.

This approach is similar to how I treat my patients in the real world: I try to empower them to take charge of their health. I want people to know that they have full control over their risk of chronic diseases and cancer, their mental health and more. I’m just here to provide them with the building blocks to do it.

When I first started, I posted basic health literacy – like how to incorporate five serves of veggies in your diet, and why it’s important to exercise. As I continued to create content, I delved into topics that were traditionally considered taboo, like sexual health, miscarriage and postpartum life, clearing up the myths associated with them along the way.

There's no place for stigma when it comes to our wellbeing – it’s only through tackling these topics head-on that we're going to shift the paradigm.

I’m privileged and grateful to have the qualifications I do, and I value being able to make a real impact in people’s lives. When I receive encouraging messages from my audience, patients and colleagues, I know it’s all been worth it. 

Dr Preeya Alexander is a general practitioner based in Melbourne and our resident AIA Vitality Expert. She’s passionate about improving health and wellbeing literacy for all Australians. A prominent expert health educator, Preeya has featured across a range of TV, news and digital media, as well as running her own successful blog, The Wholesome Doctor. 

Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.