Harnessing the Power of Social Media as a #Tweetiatrician

I have a Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even a Snapchat account, though I primarily use Facebook as my go-to for my daily social media fix. However, as a future pediatrician, my teenage patients like to remind me that no one their age uses Facebook anymore, –it’s for old people.  But, as someone in their mid-20’s who is about to make the transition from medical student to resident, I grew up with Facebook. It was where I updated my status for every experience in high school, posted endless pictures of new friends in college, and explored a new city during post-college employment. However, it was not until medical school, through my leadership role in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT), that I finally realized that my social media posts could be used for so much more.

I was first introduced to the popular AAP hashtag, #Tweetiatrician, at a national AAP meeting. I was immediately inspired by how an individual or a group of pediatric trainees/physicians could utilize the power of social media to advocate for children and families. I was struck by how a social media post could forge both a personal connection (by utilizing a personal handle) and an expansive connection publicly with many friends and followers (by using uniting hashtags). I saw how the hashtag #Tweetiatrician gave rise to social media campaigns, where people were motivated by each other to speak out as individuals and as a united voice for children and families. There is great pride associated with this utilizing this hashtag, many pediatric trainees/attendings even use Tweetiatrician as a title and source of identity on social media. Other common hashtags used by trainees/physicians advocating for important child health issues include: #PutKids1st, #VoteKids, #VaccinesWork, #FutureFAAP, and #Access4Kids.

I had my first personal experience with creating a social media campaign on December 12^th, 2017 when I was inspired by a group of pediatric residents from California, who were planning a day of action to urge Congress to extend funding for the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Feeling energized by their call to action, I gathered together a group of AAP SOPT leaders to help create a nationwide social media campaign. We sent out a call to action, asking pediatric trainees from across the country to post pictures of themselves holding signs urging Congress to #ExtendCHIP. The response we received was incredible. On December 12^th, my social media feeds were filled with countless images of medical students, residents, fellows, attending physicians, nurses, and so many others, using their collective voice to advocate for children. I realized how I could make a real impact and connect with my peers, mentors, and leaders by utilizing social media. The following video from SOPT, highlights the event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNVQ2pjcbLE#action=share

Now, more than ever, as patients, families, trainees, and physicians face an uncertain political future, it is important that we use both our personal and collective voice to advocate for what we believe to be just, humane, and compassionate. And yes, I argue that we can all do this effectively by utilizing social media. Of course, there are many challenges and issues with social media, but it has become a powerful tool in my life to connect both personally and professionally with peers, mentors, and inspirational leaders in the field of pediatrics. As a result of these campaigns, people can be encouraged to shift their viewpoints and moved to action. All it takes is one individual, connecting with those around them, to present an idea with a united voice which can then spread a message of change across communities, the country, and even the world. Every medical trainee has the capacity to do this within their own community. All it takes is a little time, persistence, and perhaps a modicum of luck. Imagine what we can accomplish together, as future doctors, if we unite our voices through social media.