Presenter Profile
Tracy Mehan, MA
Co-host of the Communications Breakdown podcast
Center for Injury Research and Policy
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Tracy.Mehan@NationwideChildrens.org
Linktr.ee/tracymehan
Tracy Mehan is the Director of Research Translation and Communication at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She is also co-host of Communications Breakdown - a podcast that breaks down what works, and doesn’t, in health and science communication. She is a nationally recognized expert in injury prevention and health communication, with a passion for making evidence-based information accessible, inclusive, and engaging. Tracy leads strategic communication efforts that bridge research and public engagement, and she trains professionals across disciplines on how to effectively share their work. A strong advocate for the role of digital media in public health, she creates content and campaigns that resonate with families, health care providers, and policymakers while regularly advising organizations on how to use social media to expand their impact. Tracy’s work blends storytelling, strategic messaging, and emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—to amplify pediatric injury prevention messages in today’s fast-paced digital world.
Presentations
From Reels to Real Safety: Pediatric Injury Prevention in the Digital Space
Darria Long Gillespie, MD, MBA
Maneesha Agarwal, MD, FAAP
Tracy Mehan, MA
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, social media has become a powerful tool for reaching families, caregivers, and communities with lifesaving injury prevention messages. This panel brings together physician-influencers, communication leaders, and organizational voices who have successfully leveraged social media platforms to share evidence-based pediatric injury prevention content. Panelists will explore their personal journeys into digital engagement, discuss strategies to amplify injury prevention messages, and provide insights on navigating the challenges of online spaces. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively use social media to promote injury prevention—whether as a content creator, collaborator, or amplifier. Panelists will highlight lessons learned, pitfalls to avoid, and ways to handle difficult online situations, while underscoring why pediatric injury prevention professionals cannot afford to ignore social media in today’s evolving environment.
1. Identify strategies for effectively engaging in social media to promote pediatric injury prevention messages.
2. Recognize common pitfalls and challenges of professional engagement on social media, including managing negative or harmful interactions.
3. Discuss opportunities for individual professionals and organizations to amplify pediatric injury prevention efforts through digital platforms.