Joel Bervell

02/01/2025

A few months ago, in March 2024, I shared this video from the Student National Medical Association’s Annual Medical Education Conference—the largest gathering of underrepresented minority medical and premedical students in the United States. It quickly gained 27M views and received incredible support, but it also brought an outpouring of vitriolic and rcst comments.

I wish I could have dismissed these remarks as bots, but in a time when Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts are being politicized and weaponized, I know they represent something deeper. These moments serve as a stark reminder that the work to diversify healthcare and uplift Black doctors is far from over.

As we begin 2025, let this be a call to action to challenge these barriers and advocate for a more inclusive, equitable future in medicine. Representation matters.

01/01/2025

One last photo dump for 2024 and a heartfelt thank you 🙏🏾

Thank you for being here: for having the hard conversations, challenging the status quo, and engaging with content that drives meaningful change.

This year has been nothing short of transformative, and it’s all because of your unwavering support. From advocating for health equity at the highest levels of government to creating a kids’ television show that inspires the next generation, I’ve been able to live out my purpose: amplifying voices that are too often unheard and fighting for a future where equity isn’t just an aspiration but a reality.

This year took me from the White House, where I spoke on panels about mental health and the creator economy, to the Clinton Global Initiative, where I explored how diversity and data can unlock healthcare excellence. I had the honor of hosting ‘The Dose’ podcast, launching a Kickstarter to bring ‘The Doctor Is In’ to life, and even sharing a TED Talk about rethinking racial bias in medicine. Each of these moments wasn’t just about the work I did—it was about the conversations we had together and the impact we’ve created as a community.

I’ve always believed: “The job you’re going to have in the future probably doesn’t exist today.” And this role I’ve stepped into—educator, advocate, and storyteller—feels like the embodiment of that idea. Every step of this journey has been about blending purpose with possibility, and I’m so grateful to have you here with me.

As we head into 2025, I hope we continue learning, unlearning, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Together, we’re not just witnessing change—we’re creating it. Here’s to even greater impact in the year ahead. 🖤

19/12/2024

Some big news! I’m thrilled to announce that I’m officially partnering with to bring The Doctor Is In to life. This show is a groundbreaking digital animated series that combines live-action and animation to inspire and empower the next generation of medical professionals!

As your host—aka the “Medical Mythbuster”—I’ll play a friendly pediatrician answering curious medical questions from my 2D-animated co-host, Little Leland, a lovable five-year-old with endless questions about how the human body works.

Thanks to your incredible support of our Kickstarter campaign, which raised nearly $62,000, The Doctor Is In caught the attention of YouTube Health, a division dedicated to making high-quality health information accessible. Through this exciting partnership, YouTube Health is helping financially support the series, which will premiere exclusively on YouTube next summer!

Each episode blends education with entertainment, tackling relatable topics like catching a cold or losing a tooth, while also introducing young audiences to career paths in medicine. Alongside Little Leland, I’ll be joined by a cast of animated anthropomorphic medical tools, including Otto (a grumpy doctor’s bag), Sammie (a friendly stethoscope), and Zada (a clever x-ray machine).

This series is about more than just answering questions—it’s about breaking down barriers in medicine and science while celebrating inclusivity, representation, and the power of diverse voices in healthcare.

I can’t wait for you to meet the The Doctor Is In team and join us on this journey to inspire future doctors, nurses, and healthcare leaders! Let’s make learning fun and accessible for all. 🩺✨

Special thank you to the incredible teams at AdAstraMedia () who have been instrumental in bringing this to life, YouTube Health for the support and for the announcement. Onwards and upwards 🙏🏾

18/12/2024

Wrapping up the year with one final trip to the White House for President Biden’s Holiday Reception. 🎄❄️ What made it truly unforgettable was bringing my mom along to share this special moment! Decades ago, when she immigrated from Ghana, I don’t think she could have imagined walking through the historic halls of the White House. Grateful beyond words for these opportunities and the chance to connect with so many old and new friends 🥹

11/12/2024

What an honor it has been to attend the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony and speak with two survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. 

For the past few days I’ve been in Oslo, Norway. Today, was the Noble Peace Prize Ceremony where Nihon Hidankyo was awarded the the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. It was an incredible moving ceremony,

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking with two survivors of Hiroshima. One of them, Hisako Kimora (Slide 8), shared a story that will stay with me forever. At just 8 years old, she lost 13 family members, including her father. She told me how, in the aftermath, she was consumed by hatred for America and the unimaginable pain it had caused her family. But over time, Hisako realized that hatred would not rebuild what had been lost, nor would it prevent such suffering from happening again. So, she made a courageous choice: To forgive.

Now 87, Hisako has spent her life sharing her story with future generations, determined to ensure no one else endures what she and her family did. Her courage is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the fragile nature of peace.

Even today, nuclear weapons remain a shadow over our world, and in what can feel like an increasingly unstable global moment, stories like Hisako’s call on us to do more than remember—they call on us to act.

Peace is not something that happens on its own. It requires hard work, perseverance, and the willingness to choose hope over fear. I remain committed to honoring the resilience of survivors like Hisako by doing my part to build a future where no child, no family, no community, ever faces such devastation again. That’s a world worth fighting for.

Special thanks to , and for this life-changing experience.

03/12/2024

This morning, I woke up to the incredible news that I’ve been named to the 2025 list in Social Media!

Almost exactly four years ago, I began using social media to call out the racial biases I was witnessing in real-time in medical school. I never could have imagined the impact it would have. Since starting, I’ve been invited to speak at hundreds of institutions worldwide, collaborated with public institutions like the White House, World Health Organization, HHS, and the Surgeon General’s Office, and worked with some of my favorite brands to champion inclusivity. Along the way, I started hosting The Dose podcast with The Commonwealth Fund, began writing a book, and am gearing up to launch ‘The Doctor Is In,’ () a digital animated series designed to inspire kids to explore STEM. All of this has unfolded alongside the demands of medical school rotations—and in just a few months, I’ll be starting residency!

It hasn’t been easy, but the stories, connections, and impact I’ve experienced are proof that one voice, one action, one post can spark real change—never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Thank you to my team(s) who have continued to inspire and motivate me and to each of YOU who have supported me along the way—this recognition is for the community and as much yours as it is mine. 🙌🏾 Onwards and upwards!

22/11/2024

A heartfelt thank you to for featuring me in “Issue 12: The New Order”!

This edition celebrates the youth leaders driving meaningful change across the globe, and I’m truly honored to be part of it.

To be included alongside icons like Keke Palmer () some of my favorite artists like Chappell Roan () and Omar Apollo (.apollo), and so many others is beyond surreal.

Special thanks to the phenomenal , , and for your unwavering support and for believing in the power of bringing youth to the table and changing the world.

Here’s to continuing the work, uplifting our communities, and striving to leave the world better than we found it.

05/11/2024

Today is Election Day.

Ten years ago, I had the privilege of meeting one of my heroes, Congressman John Lewis, in the House of Representatives. I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as he spoke about the power of one vote—the power of one person showing up to stand for something bigger than themselves. He reminded me of the generations who fought for our right to shape what our collective future looks like.

Today, I’m casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for what I believe that collective future should look like. It’s a future where the President of the United States leads with empathy, where immigrants are welcomed, not condemned, and where the voices of all communities matter. It’s a future that promises access to healthcare, environmental justice, the protection of voting rights, and the bedrock truth of democracy.

It’s a future where we can keep organizing, keep raising our voices, and keep holding leaders accountable. Where we tackle rising firearm violence in schools, can speak out against injustices like those happening in Gaza, and work toward a world that’s more compassionate and more just.

But whether or not you agree with me on who I’m voting for, what’s most important is that we all take part in this process. Voting is a powerful statement about the world we want to build.

So let’s honor those who paved the way for us to have this right. Show up, cast your vote, and let’s make our voices heard for a better tomorrow.

31/10/2024

There’s only FOUR hours left to donate to ‘The Doctor Is In’ and bring to life this animated series. We’re so close to our Kickstarter goal!!! If you’ve been holding out on donating, please take this last chance to contribute and help us reach our goal. Thank you for ALL your support!!!

Visit the link here:

A LIVE Action and Animated Series Featuring the Medical Mythbuster, Joel Bervell and little Leland.

31/10/2024

There’s only FOUR hours left to donate to ‘The Doctor Is In’ and bring to life this animated series. We’re so close to our Kickstarter goal!!! If you’ve been holding out on donating, please take this last chance to contribute and help us reach our goal. Thank you for ALL your support!!!

Visit the link here (or find it in my bio):
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedoctorisintvshow/the-doctor-is-in

30/10/2024

We’re down to the final 24 hours to hit our goal of $60K for ‘The Doctor Is In’—a unique kids’ animated/ live-action series designed to inspire the future of healthcare. It’s all or nothing - if we don’t reach our goal we don’t get funded.

Take a look at some of the mock-ups our team has been working tirelessly on. We’re so excited to bring this project to life, but we can’t do it without you.

If my content has ever offered you new insights or value, I’d be incredibly grateful for your support. Whether it’s $5, $15, $100 or more every bit brings us closer to making this dream a reality.

Comment “equity” to get a donation link sent to you or visit the link in my bio to donate. Please share! Let’s make this vision come to life together.

25/10/2024

Huge thank you to and for this amazing story about the Kickstarter I launched for the animated tv show I’ve been working on, ‘The Doctor Is In’! But I still need your support to make this a reality.

We have SIX days to reach our Kickstarter goal of 60K. If we don’t reach it, we unfortunately don’t get funded. If everyone donated $5 (the cost of a coffee) we could reach our goal TODAY.

Visit/ share the Kickstarter link in my bio to learn more about the project and support. With your help we can inspire the next generation of future little doctors!!

16/10/2024

If you haven’t heard already, I’m launching a digital animated series to inspire the next generation of kids to explore STEM! 🙌🏾 A massive thank you to everyone who has already donated to support our Kickstarter – we’re currently 20% of the way to our $60K goal, with just two weeks left to get there. Haven’t had a chance yet? Check out my bio to learn more and consider donating. Every contribution brings us one step closer to making this vision a reality. Let’s do this together! 💪🏾

15/10/2024

My TED Talk is officially out!!

A few months ago, I was honored to be selected as one of 11 TED Fellows, joining a global community of innovators and changemakers collaborating across disciplines to create impactful change.

As part of the program, I had the opportunity to film a short-form documentary where I explore the crucial role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, particularly in the field of medicine.

I can’t wait for you to check it out and join the conversation on how we can make healthcare more equitable for all, especially with the use of social media!

Joel Bervell was one of the only Black students in his medical school program. After noticing how misconceptions about race were embedded in health care, he turned to social media to raise awareness about the harmful impact of biases in medicine. He unpacks the long history of race-based health care...

25/09/2024

Hey fam!!

I’m building an animated digital TV show to inspire the next generation of medical professionals and I need your help.

Sign-up for the pre-launch of our Kickstarter here then keep reading: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedoctorisintvshow/the-doctor-is-in

For the past few years, I’ve been working on a project I wish I had growing up: *The Doctor Is In!* It’s a mixed live-action/animated series for kids aged 3-5, where Leland, a 5-year-old boy who loves going to the doctor’s office, and I explore medical topics with the help of Sammie the Stethoscope, Zada the X-ray, and Otto the Bag.

I’m beyond excited to bring this vision to life, but I need your help! We’re launching a Kickstarter for the project and are looking for all kinds of support - monetary, connections, etc. The Kickstarter officially launches October 1st, but you can visit the link above to get notified when it goes live. I’ll be sharing updates and stay tuned to hear about the incredible voice actors that we’re bringing on board!

Thank you all so much for your support!

A LIVE Action and Animated Series Featuring the Medical Mythbuster, Joel Bervell and little Leland.

24/07/2024

The tragic loss of Sonya Massey should never have happened.

I often avoid watching body cam footage - I feel that it desensitizes viewers to violence against Black bodies - but I felt drawn to watch this one. I was horrified.

All I could think about is how in the United States, Black women like Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson and now Sonya Massey aren’t safe in their own home.

How our justice system continues to fail communities of color and calls for reform are met with resistance.

How these tragedies leave families and communities heartbroken and searching for answers.

We must demand justice and accountability, and fight relentlessly for a world where Black lives are truly valued and protected. We owe it to Sonya Massey and all the others to create a future where such horrors are no longer a reality.

Image source:

Note: Slide 6 should say “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Instead of “I’ll”

21/07/2024

President Joe Biden has officially dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. What’re your thoughts? And who might her Vice Presidential pick be? 🤔

18/06/2024

We’re casting!!! I’m so excited to announce that we’re casting for the animated children’s show I’ve been working on, “The Doctor is In”! This animated children’s show follows the adventures of Little Leland and Dr. Joel (me!) who love explaining medical concepts to the audience (you!). With the help of my friendly, talking medical supplies, both Leland and the audience will learn something new about how our bodies work! We’ve got the scripts, and now we need your voice. If you think you or a friend would be a good fit, I’d love to hear from you.

Additional Details:
Experience in voice acting is preferred but not required.
Ability to convey emotion through voice is essential.
Actors must be comfortable working in a remote, fast-paced environment.

Fill out the form in my L!3nk !n b!0
Attach your demo reel OR 30 sec sample recording (30 seconds) showcasing your vocal range and interpretation of the character.

Can’t wait to hear from you and the magic we’re going to make happen :)