Thread by @aoglasser

1/n #Tweetorial: As an Assistant PD for @OHSUIMRes focused on scholarship, #medtwitter, & #hcsm (health care social media), I’m often guide residents and colleagues on how to best use Twitter for academics, networking, learning, etc...

2/n recently, while welcoming newbies (esp students) and “onboarding” them to #medtwitter & #hcsm, I was asked to put together advice for IM applicants on how to best use social media during application/interview season. I think this advice is applicable beyond IM, too.

3/n First, tell me about yourself:

4/n Ala @ReneeDversdal on #medtwitter for your IM application, think of it as akin to the personal statement--a great way to shed light on your background and interests as well as personality and professionalism (for good OR bad), etc

5/n I see the role of medtwitter for IM applicants as 3-fold:
1. How programs learn about you
2. How you learn about programs
3. How you learn about the internal medicine community

6/n PROGRAMS & TWITTER: Some students “go dark”/anonymous on #SoMe during interview season to avoid info being used against them even if not embarrassing. Do programs look for applicants on Twitter? 🤷‍♀️
I “find” applicants when they follow @OHSUIMRes during interview season

7/n Given the nature of Twitter, I recommend this be your professional public account (with sprinklings of the personal). Don’t do anything stupid, don’t rant, watch your tone, be professional, informed, & grounded—in case any program is watching (and even if they’re not)

8/n What if you use #medtwitter to engage on “controversial” or to advocate in heated politically charged arenas?
⬆still applies while being passionate & contributing to informed dialogue
So…if programs look at your profile, only give them material that can help your case!

9/n This gets to a digital persona/professional portfolio plus how #medtwitter is shaking up traditional hierarchies including (but not just) for research dissemination
Publish something? TWEET IT!
Present something? TWEET IT!
Lead something? TWEET IT!

10/n Get comfortable with the humblebrag! Start preparing to talk about your work long before you hit the interview trail. The discussions about your work on twitter can prepare you for a more robust discussion in the interview!

https://twitter.com/VinayPrasadMD/status/1016168588581801984

11/n Will programs see this v read your ERAS CV? Probably not. BUT, you will also be asked to talk about your work and its impact. What discussion followed a tweet? How was it received? Ex. be familiar with the Altmetric of your work.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…

12/n This is another great read re creating a digital portfolio or using #medtwitter for your “scholarly branding”. Take home? Don’t expect your article/work to speak for itself
jacr.org/article/S1546-…

13/n Here’s one recent example of the “art of the humblebrag” by @OHSUIMRes #ChiefResident @jungleland

https://twitter.com/jungleland/status/1023770952834768896

14/n And, if you are truly engaged and active on #medtwitter, put it in the “hobbies” section and expand on it! You have 510 characters. If I interview you, I guarantee I will ask you about your experience. Plant the seed!

https://twitter.com/aoglasser/status/1021506626061185025

15/n LEARN ABOUT PROGRAMS! IM residency accounts may be faculty or Chief Resident run. In addition to providing #meded content, many provide lots of info about programs, including programmatic innovations and “day in the life” and “culture/soul” of a program tweets

16/n Here’s a great recent example from @OHSUIMRes, showing how the #ChiefResidents supported the new interns during the first week of rotations

https://twitter.com/OHSUIMRes/status/1013882897319714818

17/n @OHSUIMres maintains this list of known IM residency accounts on #medtwitter
Check it out and explore other programs!
twitter.com/OHSUIMRes/list…

18/n Just like you’d go to the website before interview day to have specific questions re elements of the program, consider going to the twitter feed. Use as a source of Qs, which will demonstrate to your interviewer/the PD how interested & engaged you are with the program

19/n Worried about programs knowing who’s looking at them? That’s the joy of Twitter being public! You don’t have to follow an account to see their tweets
Just say, “I saw on Twitter that your residents did X, can you tell me more about it?”

20/n “I saw on Twitter that you have a lot of residents present posters at the @OregonACP meeting. I’m interested in scholarship, can you tell me more about that process?”

https://twitter.com/OHSUIMRes/status/926324185705496576

21/n “I saw that Dr. @jakelutymd seems to tweet a lot about his QI curriculum? Can you tell me more specifics about what that involves for the residents?”

https://twitter.com/jakelutymd/status/918541576560812033

22/n “I saw that @VinayPrasadMD has tweeted a lot about the residents he works with and publications. Does he really work with that many residents at a time? Could I get to work with him?”

https://twitter.com/VinayPrasadMD/status/931021365012025344

23/n FINALLY, use #medtwitter for yourself as a future physician! Engage w content and conversation, learn, flatten hierarchies see the work professional societies do, and as a student, gain “ACCESS” and “VOICE” (@MotherinMed 2015 JGIM).
link.springer.com/article/10.100…

24/n Find an incredible community of support and learning
#TipsForNewDocs @laxswamy @kellywongmd @dinkjardine
jgme.org/doi/pdf/10.430…

25/n even on your toughest days as a student or resident, have a place to build your resilience and reengage with the joy and humility in the practice of medicine.
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…

26/n Enjoy
Avoid common sense pitfalls
Don’t say anything negative about your home institution
Don’t say anything negative about programs/your interview day
Be respectful without bowing to hierarchies
And good luck with interviews and the Match!

27/n finally, this is my opinion (with thanks to those who vetted this tweetorial @ReneeDversdal @laxswamy)
in #medtwitter fashion I invite more to contribute thoughts! @abbyCCim @PDX_Tom @AmyOxentenkoMD @Oller_KL @mmteacherdoc @WrayCharles @RyanGamlin @OHSU_IMCore @SchneiderBn

I'm also curious to hear from folks in fellowship leadership positions about how this advise may apply to their mentees or the applicants they're review/interview, esp from nephrology! @RenalFellowNtwk @Nephro_Sparks @kidney_boy