A study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery last week line itemed the apparent transgressions of a group of surgical trainees. The study, Prevalence of unprofessional social media content among young vascular surgeons, cited breaches of professionalism including wearing swimwear (medbikini), drinking alcohol, profanity and commenting on controversial social ... Continue Reading about MedBikini and the Moving Target of Medical Professionalism
Twitter and the Dual Responsibility of Media
I found this tweet and it got me thinking about the tension that I feel on MedTwitter. It made me think that there is a dual responsibility of media. Trying to post something on #MedTwitter without invoking criticism: Attached was a gif of a woman executing an impossible rollerblade sequence around some obstacles. The tweet is from Dr. Kurt Lucas and ... Continue Reading about Twitter and the Dual Responsibility of Media
How Doctors Learn About Social Media
Recently a contentious public exchange over the diagnosis and management of surgical condition lead a young physician to leave Twitter. For some, watching this doctor virtually vaporize was the equivalent of losing a colleague. This is because our social networks have become important sources of support, information, inspiration and fellowship. The situation raises ... Continue Reading about How Doctors Learn About Social Media
Potty Mouth Doctors and the Emerging Value of Outrage
It’s interesting how the use of social media by physicians has changed as it relates to risk and professionalism. In the earliest days doctors either didn’t use social media or they mitigated risk through anonymous profiles. Even now, the core goal for many physicians dipping their toes in the public conversation is to first avoid getting in trouble. The rise of ... Continue Reading about Potty Mouth Doctors and the Emerging Value of Outrage
Eugene Gu and MedTwitter’s Strangest Hour
Medical cyberpresence can be stranger than fiction. Case in point is the saga of Dr. Eugene Gu. For those who don't remember, Gu as a surgical resident positioned himself as a victim of white supremacy at his training program's institution. Last year his public world exploded as a weird medical pseudoreality involving, among other things, anonymous Twitter accounts ... Continue Reading about Eugene Gu and MedTwitter’s Strangest Hour
Physician Anti-Semitism – Where’s the Physician Outrage?
Earlier this month a Cleveland clinic medical resident was fired for a long trail of social media posts laced with anti-Semitism. While the story caught the attention of the national media, I found the response by the online physician community to be anemic relative to other incidents. Surprising, really. Because it seems physician activists of all backgrounds and ... Continue Reading about Physician Anti-Semitism – Where’s the Physician Outrage?