Harnessing the Power of Medical Twitter for Mentorship

Abstract

edical professionals and trainees 1,2 have adopted the use of Twitter 3 for medical education, 4,5 support, and advocacy, which has resulted in an online community often referred to as Medical Twitter (colloquially as #MedTwitter). The authors recognize an emerging utility of Medical Twitter in mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship, which has only become more necessary in the current climate of social distancing. We will discuss opportunities to use Twitter to enhance and promote mentoring relationships in medicine, particularly for those trainees from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds who might not otherwise find mentors in their institutions.

Leveraging Social Media and Web Presence to Discuss and Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Radiology

“…It is also the result of the increasing importance of social media presence in an increasingly digital world. In both cases, this change in representation is welcomed in a professional sense and by future radiology applicants [13][14][15][16]. These changes reflect the transforming landscape of the NRMP process as well as the agility of these radiology departments to respond to an increasing need for social media communication with a wider pool of applicants.…”

The Democratization of Scientific Conferences: Twitter in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond

“…In the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, groups such as the #WomenInMedicine chat had already been showcasing Twitter as a networking tool for women and underrepresented minorities (URMs) in medicine. Virtual discussions of issues such as burnout, imposter syndrome, and disparities in academic medicine allowed for participants to share experiences and provide mutual support in ways that are more difficult to accomplish in person at many institutions [ 28 ••, 29 ]. The year 2020 brought issues related to social justice into sharp focus and catalyzed broader transitions toward online networking across medicine for reasons unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…The year 2020 brought issues related to social justice into sharp focus and catalyzed broader transitions toward online networking across medicine for reasons unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the #ShareTheMicNowMed trend—whereby non-Black physicians allowed Black physicians (often trainees) to tweet from their accounts about prejudice in medicine and other social justice issues—has served as an important platform to raise discussions of inequities and raise the profiles of URMs in medicine [ 29 ].…”

New Age Mentoring and Disruptive Innovation—Navigating the Uncharted With Vision, Purpose, and Equity

“…Social media has helped faculty and resident physicians offer mentorship to underrepresented minority (URM) students and to students at institutions lacking home residency programs. [34][35][36][37] Students have also used social media to connect with fellow applicants and share resources, a form of near-peer mentorship. 38 These efforts have been primarily led by individuals, and there is likely untapped potential in harnessing accounts for residency programs, departments, and national organizations to formally use social media to connect mentors and mentees.…”