Hey! Let’s have some fun tonight. I can’t remember the last time I tweeted a lecture.

A thread on “the doctor will tweet you now: social media and online professionalism”
If you’re new to Twitter, this presentation will be a good one to follow.

If you’re comfortable with using the platform, keep an eye out. You might be featured in this slide deck ☺️
I am a university lecturer and consultant. My areas of expertise are in #SciComm, social media, mis/disinformation, and online professionalism.

I teach and work with audiences in #STEM and #medicine
Boo. Some of these slides are going to have wonky formatting because I’m on mobile.

I like this definition of eProfessionalism best ⤵️

I‘ll add that eProfessionalism aligns you’re online activities with your offline career goals.
I’m fascinated by the connection the medical community has with the public. We have a lot of respect for you!

Unfortunately, this also means that the public sees you by your professional identity regardless of if you are in scrubs or off work. This translates to #SoMe too.
You can use your platform in so many ways that support eProfessionalism.

I love the idea of #MedTwitter mentoring. @cclareMDMPH recently shared her experience with mentoring @JaceeMccoy.

I can’t think of a better way to use this platform.
If you have a platform already, amplify the voices of others within the community. I try and look for folks with great messaging and low follower counts.

Make sure people like @ShaunakAFC get the recognition for their efforts.
Twitter is a great platform for increasing awareness of issues with diversity and inclusion. I learn so much from @DrJeanita and her work in #BlackInSTEM
You can find fantastic examples of professional branding throughout #MedTwitter too. I like @krutu8’s bio because it highlights her personal and professional interests!
This tweet in particular was fun! @krutu8 used the “how it started vs how it’s going” trend to share photos of her career experiences.

Paging #TwitteRx 👀
Twitter is a great way to engage new audiences, too.

@_Anthropoid is a neuroscientist who uses Periscope to connect with the public.

In this video (which I can never get to play properly 😂), he explains peer review in the context of all the recent #covid19 pre-prints.
I think that this quote from @DrJenGunter summarizes the motivation and need for more medical professionals on social media.

The public needs evidence-based #SciComm on social platforms 🙏
Know that you can engage all types of audiences online! If you want to communicate within your field, say hello to #AcademicTwitter

People always ask me about the limitations of a tweet.

@GermHunterMD proves that you can convey a lot of information in a single post. 🤯
What I love most about Twitter is that it flattens hierarchies.

@CarlosdelRio7 explains here. He was live-tweeting an #IDWeek2019 presentation by @DrJRMarcelin.
Journalists use Twitter to connect with experts and leading authorities on specific topics.

So, yeah, journalist might reach out. Or, your tweets could end up in an article! That happened to @GermHunterMD recently.

See? Having a professional Twitter presence helps!
Alright, let’s switch gears and talk about some of the pitfalls...
Be careful with white coat marketing. In fact, avoid it all together.

This activity is more prominent on Instagram where some folks aim to become social media influencers by selling supplements or “natural” products.

WCM violates the public’s trust in medical professionals.
WCM existed before social media.

Patients may remember the days when doctors endorsed cigarettes in print ads.
It’s best to be transparent & avoid WCM.

Last year, an incident came up where physicians were flown to Cancun by a pharmaceutical company. They spent the weekend partying & the company asked the docs to post pics using #newtox

Many ethicists took issue w the lack of disclosure.
When it comes to posting about patients... think deeply about the appropriateness of it.

What value does it add?
-Should it be on social media?
Have you received informed consent to post?

If you decide to post, make sure you disclose that consent has been received.
Ok, look out for infighting on social media, too. The c. elegans fiasco took on new life and meaning very quickly.

Important quote: “it’s like people forgot Twitter is a public platform that reflects also on their professional life.”
Now, some tips for responsible use...
Ignore the pesky sealions. These folks know where they stand on an issue, but they engage in bad faith questioning to annoy and waste your time.

See @gorskon’s tweet from earlier today ⤵️
Would you believe me if I told you these two comics are from a publication in 1968? I don’t blame you for doubting it! 😂

This advice from The Computer as a Communication Device is still relevant today.

Interact with your audience. Engage them with respect.
Respect patient privacy!

I’m in shock that someone tweeted the image on the left today. Nice matching socks, but did you receive informed consent? 😂

I love @aalkermd’s approach - “remember patients through their stories. You should see my patient notes, but you can’t #hipaa
Avoid posting photos that could reveal any information about a patient.

Cameras are pretty powerful now. PHI could be present if one zooms in on an image.

I encourage folks to not post photos or videos taken within the hospital.
Ya’ll still with me? 👀
This was an animated slide, so read the text on the right first.

The online role of the modern physician is to act as a credible source of information and foster trust with the public.

How can you build trust and communicate science? Check out the advice from Fauci via @YaleSPH
Fauci’s advice aligned nicely with some of my own - “focus on presenting credible information”
If you’re on social media, make sure it’s worth your while.

Have fun.
#BeKind
Be bold!

Don’t be afraid to experiment while your audience is small.
Thank you for attending this evening’s lecture 😂

You can find me on the following platforms ⤵️
Here’s a link to the lecture:
You can follow @Sarah_Mojarad.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

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