Ep 127: Sickfluencer or Patient Influencer? Who the Post Is Really For
AiArthritis Voices 360 Main, Full Episode 127
Air Date: November 1st 2026
This episode is a 2, as outlined in our 6 Step Patient-Led Problem Solving Process.
Leila P.L. Valete introduces the AiArthritis 360 Podcast with co-hosts Eileen Davidson, James Hollens, and Kerry Wong, who share why they began publicly discussing their autoimmune and autoinflammatory arthritis experiences: catharsis, reducing isolation, correcting stigma and misinformation, and helping others.
They discuss a Telegraph article using the term “sickfluencer,” which they say belittles disabled people, implies faking illness for attention or money, and frames chronic illness as a “social contagion,” raising concerns about patient disbelief, misinformation, harassment, and real-life consequences for accommodations and benefits.
Polls show most listeners feel helped by chronic illness creators and many have felt judged. The hosts argue responsible monetization is acceptable with transparency, truthfulness, and avoiding harmful claims, and AiArthritis invites community participation and support.
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Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at
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Who is at the table?
Leila P.L. Valete, AiArthritis Health Education Manager & Person Living with Lupus & Sjogren's
Eileen Davidson - Educational Media Assistant & Person living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
Kerry Wong - Living with AiArthritis disease
James Hollens - Living with AiArthritis disease
Expand to View the Podcast Transcript
All our main 1st Sunday of the month episodes are either an initial "put the topic on the table" episode (Step 2 in our organization's 6-step problem solving process) or a "revisit to the table" episode (Step 6 in our organization's 6-step process), where we build on a past show because we have moved forward in developing help, tools, or projects around the issue (Step 5 in our organization's 6-step process).
After each show airs we spin off the conversation into many discussions over various formats, which we now call #360its.
Your Co-Hosts: Who is at the Table this Episode?
Leila P.L. Valete, Health Education Manager
Leila P.L. Valete is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus & Sjögren's. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.
Leila is on social media as @Lupus.Lifestyle.Lei sharing bits and pieces about her life with lupus and connecting with others.
Eileen Davidson - Educational Media Assistant
Person living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
Eileen Davidson, also known as Chronic Eileen, is an autoimmune arthritis and chronic illness patient advocate from Vancouver, BC, Canada. She actively advocates for arthritis patients through her involvement with various organizations and committees such as The Arthritis Research Canada Patient Advisory Board.
Connect with Eileen:
Instagram - Chronic Eileen
Facebook - Chronic Eileen
Website: www.chroniceileen.com
James Hollens
James is a person living with ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis from London, England.
Connect with James:
@jameshollens on IG & Tiktok
Kerry Wong
Kerry was eventually diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Sarcoidosis, Small Fiber Neuropathy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Sjögren's Syndrome (to name a few). Kerry is a volunteer at New York State Advocacy Chair, Ambassador with Arthritis Foundation, and Patient Ambassador/Peer Mentor with Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. Kerry does all she can to support the arthritis, sarcoidosis, chronic illness, and rare disease communities
Connect with Kerry:
Instagram: @buttahflyk
Twitter: @buttahflyk
Facebook: @floatlikeabuttahfly
Pull up your seat at the table
Now it's YOUR TURN to join the conversation!
What do you think about this episode?
We want to know what you think! By continuing the conversation with your opinions and perspectives - we all get a better understanding of the problems facing our community. Better yet, through these conversations we can start working and developing solutions.
We mean it when say 360. Not only do we want your input anytime and anywhere, but we also are eager to see where the conversation will take us. So please, "pull up a seat at the table" and let's start talking!
Email us at podcast@aiarthritis.org, message us on social media (find us by searching for @IFAiArthritis)
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