How a GI Fellow Found a Following: Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Education and Fun.

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years, social media has become a central part of nearly all aspects of society, including the broad field of healthcare. Over the past two years, I (the author) have created a social media platform on which I have produced video content that educates and entertains about numerous issues in healthcare and medicine. These videos have gained popularity, enabling me to develop a following of over 1 million people. With this social media platform, I have been able to educate both patients and medical trainees, dispel medical misinformation, and display a more human side of physicians in order to help patients and other healthcare workers gain a new, positive perspective on healthcare. Since users of social media typically have a limited attention span, education using social media can be challenging, though it can also be empowering since its reach can be far more extensive than what physicians typically experience in a clinical setting. Since the growing presence of social media can no longer be ignored by physicians and other healthcare professionals, it is imperative that it is understood as the powerful tool that it is for patient education and wellness.