“Case of the Week: The Value and Impact of Sharing Pathology Cases Online”

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Social media has become a driving force in the field of pathology in a variety of ways, including aiding in recruitment efforts for residents, fellows, and faculty members; promoting both individual practitioners and institutional programs; sparking discussion; creating and growing community; and sharing resources. Large teaching hospitals see an expansive number of cases, some of which are rare or have unusual features. The sharing of unique pathology cases through social media has become a robust online conversation, resulting in connections to pathologists worldwide through shared educational resources, and as examples to potential trainees and faculty of the wide variety of cases the institution sees. Methods/Case Report In 2017, under guidance of our department chair, we began posting one case per week to our website and newly created Twitter account. These posts featured recent, in-house cases contributed by faculty and trainees with slide images and de-identified case descriptions. This content began garnering a following as we shared an increasing number of more unusual cases. In 2018, our department added communications team who standardized the weekly cases and worked with resident leaders to organize and plan a schedule to collect cases from department members. The team posts these cases every Monday on the department website and on our Twitter account, alongside a poll for users to vote on their suspected diagnosis. Each Friday, the team posts the final answer with an educational explanation of the case. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion Our weekly cases have become the most popular content shared across our department’s social media channels, garnering hundreds of votes on Twitter, and now Instagram story polls, every week. Building on its popularity, in 2022 we added a second case of the week, specific to cytopathology, shared each Wednesday. We archive the cases on our website, and they are being accessed as a learning tool.