OHIO鈥檚 very own influencer鈥t least in the world of anatomy and physiology education
Ian Klein is leveraging the power of social media to better educate not only his students but the general public. Through creating videos talking on the human body and using models not accessible to most, Klein and his students are gaining a following for a good reason.
Samantha Pelham | May 2, 2025
Share:
Scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels, you can find everything from dance trends to cooking hacks鈥攂ut one Ohio University professor is using these platforms to share something a bit different: anatomy, physiology and health education.
Ian Klein, a professor of anatomy in the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio University, didn鈥檛 set out to become a social media influencer. But thanks to his clear, approachable style and a passion for teaching, his educational videos have found a massive audience beyond the classroom.
What began as a way to help students better understand lab material has turned into educational videos across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Teaching up to 10 lab sections per week, Klein found himself repeating the same demonstrations dozens of times. Despite his efforts, students were often missing key details. Then one student made a suggestion that changed everything: 鈥淲hy not record the demos?鈥
That simple idea sparked something bigger. Klein began filming his demonstrations so students could review them before class. It transformed the classroom experience with students coming in more prepared, which in turn allowed for more in-person time being spent deepening understanding instead of covering the basics.
Credit: Kenzie Tyson Photography '24
Credit: Kenzie Tyson Photography '24
Initially, channel had just 200 followers. His priority was always helping his students learn, not building a brand. But over time, as demand for his videos grew, he saw an opportunity to expand to other platforms, especially as short-form content became more popular on TikTok and Instagram.
鈥淎s social media platforms evolved, I started getting more requests from the general public,鈥 Klein said. 鈥淚 began creating videos not just for my students, but also for people dealing with medical conditions or interested in anatomy for personal reasons.鈥
Today, Klein manages multiple TikTok channels, each with a different focus. His original account, has grown to over 104,000 followers and features daily quizzes, anatomy breakdowns and answers to viewer questions. One of his most popular videos explains sinus pressure using real anatomical models, something many viewers have never seen before.
Klein, with help from his students and TAs, now run three TikTok channels. His second channel, , focuses on anatomy models which include short, 90-second walkthroughs of specific structures. That channel has grown to over 83,000 followers.
鈥淐onsistency matters,鈥 Klein said. 鈥淚t might seem boring to post daily, but people like knowing what to expect. Initially, I tried to be entertaining and goofy, but it turns out most people are using the content to learn. TikTok even has a STEM tab and people stumble into our content and stay because it鈥檚 helpful.鈥
Credit: Kenzie Tyson Photography '24
Klein鈥檚 videos have resonated far beyond his own campus. International students use translation features to understand the material and others watch the videos for personal interest or to support loved ones dealing with health issues. And for Klein, the mission goes beyond online education鈥攈e鈥檚 committed to making learning accessible to everyone.
To help create as much content as possible and better manage his channels, he鈥檚 brought students into the process, allowing them to help develop content and engage with viewers. These volunteer roles give students in health care fields the opportunity to apply their knowledge in creative, real-world ways.
鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot from this,鈥 said Morgan Isla, a junior Exercise Physiology Pre Physical Therapy major with a minor in Biological Sciences, who is also a teaching assistant for BIOS 3015. 鈥淲e鈥檙e figuring out how to explain complex medical terms to everyday people. Not every patient understands technical language, so this experience has helped me communicate better while also reinforcing what I鈥檝e learned.鈥
One of the most rewarding outcomes of this work is how it鈥檚 impacting high school education. Revenue from the channels is now being used to purchase and donate anatomical models to underfunded schools across Ohio.
I believe in free education. A lot of students, especially in rural high schools, don鈥檛 have access to high-quality anatomy models. These are vital tools, not only for inspiring students to pursue health care careers but for helping them understand how their bodies work.
So far, Klein and his team have donated models to Federal Hocking High School in Athens County and Warren High School in Washington County.
鈥淒onating these models has been a highlight for me,鈥 Isla added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so rewarding to know we鈥檙e not only educating people online but giving back in a tangible way.鈥
To date, Klein has created over 300 long-form YouTube videos and more than 1,000 combined TikTok and Instagram posts, with one new video going up nearly every day. His audience continues to grow as thousands more engage with his content each week. In total, the channels now have over 100 million views and 100,000 hours watched across all channels.
Looking ahead, Klein hopes to dive deeper into topics like heart attacks, sinus infections, and stress fractures, everyday health issues that many people struggle to understand. By breaking them down into clear, visual explanations, he鈥檚 helping people make more informed decisions about their health.
鈥淓ducation should be accessible to everyone,鈥 Klein said. 鈥淲hether students are in the classroom or watching from home, it鈥檚 about making sure they have the tools they need to succeed. I鈥檓 proud to be a part of that process.鈥