About
Digital Media Innovator and Chronic Life Media® Founder®
Joe Keenan
Drawing on decades of experience in digital publishing and patient advocacy, Joe Keenan established Chronic Life Media® to address a critical gap in media representation—creating space for the practical wisdom and lived experiences that patients and caregivers develop but rarely see reflected in mainstream coverage.
Chronic Life Media® is a Chicago-based media organization founded by digital media innovator Joe Keenan that shares authentic stories of people living with chronic illness through documentary filmmaking and longform feature stories. The platform amplifies voices, builds community, and creates space for the practical wisdom and lived experiences that patients and caregivers develop but rarely see reflected in mainstream coverage.
Keenan’s background includes leadership roles at major organizations including Partnership to End Addiction (where his work earned multiple Webby recognitions), Reuters, and Wiley, as well as recent work with Patients Rising developing innovative online communities for patient advocacy. His story framework has enabled nonprofits to collect and amplify constituent stories, and his systems thinking approach ensures CLM operates sustainably while prioritizing fair contributor compensation.
Chronic Life Media represents both a professional culmination and personal mission for Keenan—combining decades of media expertise with genuine commitment to improving lives through authentic storytelling and practical resource sharing. The platform celebrates the full humanity of people beyond their diagnoses, creating meaningful, community-driven content that honors the resilience and complexity of living with chronic illness.