There’s a new wave of internet trends sweeping across TikTok — and this time, it’s not dance challenges or lip-sync videos. Doctors, particularly from Gen Z, use the platform to offer an unfiltered glimpse into hospital life, medical school struggles, and the emotional highs and lows of saving lives. In a world where healthcare has traditionally been seen as formal, rigid, and intimidating, these young medics are changing the game — one relatable post at a time.
It all started when a few Gen Z medical students began documenting their daily routines, quirky patient interactions (with identities protected), and late-night study sessions. What was once a niche has now exploded into one of the most engaging internet trends on the platform. And people can’t get enough.
From Scrubs to Screens: How Young Doctors Are Using TikTok to Humanise Medicine
One popular TikTok shows a young doctor walking out of a 28-hour shift, makeup smudged, hair messy, but smiling — the caption simply reads: “POV: You just saved your first life.” Another video features a med student crying in their car after a tough rotation, paired with a trending audio that’s become synonymous with emotional vulnerability online. These posts are raw, real, and deeply human — a stark contrast to the glossy image of doctors we’ve grown up seeing on TV.
Why is this resonating so much? Partly because Gen Z, more than any other generation, values transparency and relatability. They’re less interested in perfection and more drawn to authenticity. Watching a 25-year-old intern juggle their career, mental health, and burnout on TikTok hits differently when you’re in the same age group facing your battles — even if it’s in a completely different field.
It also helps that these videos are brilliantly edited, using trending sounds, Gen Z slang, and humor that only someone born after 1997 could pull off naturally. Whether they’re lip-syncing to viral audio while holding a stethoscope or breaking down how to survive med school in 30 seconds, these creators are blending education with entertainment — and it’s exactly what the internet loves.
These doctor-creators are also reshaping how we think about professionalism. For years, there’s been a rigid line between personal and professional personas, especially in medicine. But Gen Z is challenging that. They’re showing that you can be competent and compassionate, while also being candid and quirky. And judging by the millions of views, people are listening.
Viral, Vulnerable, and Vital: The Rise of Gen Z Doctors as Digital Storytellers
What I find even more fascinating is how this overlaps with broader internet culture concerning mental health issues, along with self-expression. Creators do not avoid discussing feelings of imposter syndrome, panic attacks, or other moments of uncertainty. They candidly share how excruciating it is to juggle the lives of people with a “normal” existence as a 20-something trying to get by. This candor has ignited discourse around physician burnout, the weight of the medical system, and the burdens that come with providing care. These issues are critical yet too often go unaddressed.
Naturally, not everyone is happy about this shift. Some commentators raise concerns that such posts may breach patient confidentiality and professional decorum. Other hospitals are still trying to grapple strategically with this new phenomenon of content creators in scrubs. However, when done right, these videos can do so much more than entertain; they foster understanding, empathy, and a new relationship between civilians and those who wear white coats.
In a way, these doctor TikToks are the perfect reflection of where internet trends are headed: toward more raw, thoughtful, and experience-driven content. As younger professionals in all industries find their voice online, we’ll likely see similar transparency in law, education, finance, and beyond.
For now, though, Gen Z doctors are taking the lead — not just in hospitals, but on the For You Page too.
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