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- Twitter Chat Wrap-Up: How Pathologists Can Engage + Connect with Medical Students
On August 26, 2019, I took over the @Pathologists Twitter handle to host a Twitter chat on how to inform medical students about opportunities to be part of our CAP community, as well as benefits of choosing pathology as a career. CAP member experts Jerad Gardner, MD, FCAP, (@JMGardnerMD); Erin Carlquist, MD, FCAP, (@ErinCarlquistMD), and Kamran Mirza, MD, PhD, FCAP (@KMirza) contributed to the lively conversation.
A1. #SoMe is a great tool for #pathology engagement in #medicalstudent education! In my #PathElective I use #TwitterHomework (https://t.co/3rqwZGJutP) which has recently taken off as a way to distill daily #path knowledge into 1 tweet - #medicalstudents seem to like it #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A1. The reach of #SoMe is so far beyond what one can do individually - our #pathology #tweeple are par excellence and have been a collective advocacy tool for the profession! Look at the amazing posts from #hemepath #dermpath #pedipath #grosspathology - limitless! #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A1. Ummm where to start?! YouTube for 24/7 teaching w 2x speed & playback. Twitter for instant networking w global #pathology community. Facebook to interface w world experts like @phmckee1948. Etc etc. More info here: https://t.co/3wc9BP64Vl #capchat #medstudenttwitter #MedEd
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
A1. It isn't just AP/CP #pathologists that are using #SoMe but laboratorians such as #MLSs and #PAs are here too promoting our collective patient-care excellence! My great friend @iplaywithorgans is a great example of a #PA who is leading the way in #grossroom advocacy! #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A1: I think the biggest benefit is that on #SoMe you see yourself as part of this BIG, diverse, & inclusive community. Many of us come from small areas/schools where our only exposure comes from </=5 pathologists TOTAL during #medschool & it isn’t always an ideal sample #capchat
— Emily Shaffer, DO (@DrMissWV) August 27, 2019
Which social media do medical students prefer ? Twitter/IG/FB/snapchat/YouTube....
— Jonathan Lai (@JonLaiMD) August 27, 2019
Q1 how do you use social media to engage with medical students that are not rotating through #pathology already? #capchat @KMirza @JMGardnerMD . Do you find promoting it in lectures is useful? Are there other approaches?
— Matthew Cecchini (@Path_Matt) August 27, 2019
That's a great point! I help run the @SSOM_SCOPE #pathology SIG and we put on a number of events during the year - we tend to choose things #medstudents would like #molecular #autopsy #symposia all with #freefood #capchat #medtwitter
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
Tips for protecting patient privacy on social media. #HIPAA #pathology @evemariecrane @JournalofEthics https://t.co/7G3HtJPs8N. Also see my article with @TimAllenMDJD in @ArchivesPath re legal aspects of social media for #pathologists. https://t.co/V0HH1kbJcd pic.twitter.com/QSoRlpk11f
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
A2. Haven't encountered any major disadvantages yet - I guess 1 thing I would say is that there are SO MANY amazing #pathologists and some have YET to join the #Twitterverse or #instagram - so it is a "disadvantage" because they can't shine a light on their amazing work #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A2: So esp when just starting out, I’d say the two major disadvantage are
— Emily Shaffer, DO (@DrMissWV) August 27, 2019
• curating content that you find valuable & would like to reference/share at a later date
• highly variable level @ which content is presented#capchat
A2. Do you think using social media lends itself to looking online only for pathology or laboratory information? I still find published, edited textbooks to be very valuable. #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
I‘ve published 20 papers re #pathology Social Media use. I believe we have soundly countered almost every argument against professional social media use. Full list of papers & tons of advice here https://t.co/pKeTCL0VZZ #capchat #pathologists
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
I've met some degree of resistance among my colleagues and house-staff to join #SoMe , due to some degree of trepidation about public exposure/privacy concerns #capchat
— Jonathan Zuckerman MD PhD (@JZRenalPath) August 27, 2019
This is a real concern and something that can not be ignored. My advice is for those new to #SoMe to 'lurk' and watch what is going on for as long as needed before putting forward their own material #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
I see a lot.of.folks putting up disclaimers that they only use older cases. I think that's good.
— Ginger Path Barbie (@AnnieMcLeanDMD) August 27, 2019
It's much better to say "older woman with an ovarian mass" than it is to say "68 WF presented to our institution yesterday with a left ovarian mass...". I'm sure y'all get it.
A2. I think as long as it is utilized responsibly by all parties, as any other professional interactions, it is super powerful and an invaluable tool! I have not had any issues at all!
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
Indeed, how do you get them interested in the first place, especially if the Med school is not associated directly with a pathology residency program? #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
Getting information to them EARLY is 🔑 and having them understand that pathology isn't just M2/Step1 - a career in #pathology is very different from the PTSD they associate with studying for #STEP exams #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A3. The best way to explain our amazing career-diversity is to SHOW medical students what we do every day - this can be a mix of #SIGs, #careerfairs, #PathElectives #shadowing experiences etc. Another way is to #write about it!! Share the knowledge whichever way you can! #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
Truth! My current approach is to volunteer to give path lectures that no one else wants to do and then make them interesting, hang out ten minutes afterwards and find someone who might be interested and invite them to the lab for the afternoon #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
I get them for 2 hours on GYN. Teach them PAPs and take the opportunity to teach them a bit about the specialty and show them the gross room, histo, and frozens. #CAPchat
— Nicole D. Riddle, MD (@NRiddleMD) August 27, 2019
No idea what question this goes with, but since we have no required rotations anymore for med students two of us did medicine grand rounds entitled “Call the pathologist: please don’t guess” lots of students were there so maybe we will get some interested there #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
A4.When I was at UCLA, we now have EVERY SINGLE MS1 come to the clinical lab in the 3rd week of their medical school career. We use this as an opportunity to expose our field of course, but more importantly for them to see how vital pathology is to their future practice. #capchat
— Jason Scapa, MD (@JScapaPathMD) August 27, 2019
Getting information to them EARLY is key and having them understand that pathology isn'''t just M2/Step1 - a career in #pathology is very different from the PTSD they associate with studying for #STEP exams #capchat
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A4. Also try to get the course teacher of histology (even if not an MD/DO) to get on board with you. These teachers are usually MS1 class "celebrities" and if you can team up with them, you have an inside person to help promote the field of pathology. #capchat
— Jason Scapa, MD (@JScapaPathMD) August 27, 2019
Totally agree! We need to get our instructors/lecturers enthusiastic about spreading the love of a career in pathology! Hopefully they can help medical students become aware of the awesome new RFEC resources on the CAP website for medical students #capchat
— Irene Shyu, MD (@IreneShyuMD) August 27, 2019
One way to do this. Take nice new H&E Histology pics and donate them to your PhD #Histology colleagues. We have fresh slides daily that may look better than those in their slide sets. They love it, students learn from it, everyone wins. Right @Chapman_Histo @IHeartHisto? #capchat
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
They already have me as a module director as 2nd year #medstudents & multiple other awesome #pathologists teaching them @uamshealth. I think that’s why we Match so many into #pathology each year! #capchat @PathologyUAMS
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
I did recruit someone to do a path elective in line at the hospital food court once ....PGY4 now so still hopeful that will choose pathology! #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
A4 I also teach a few pathology lectures to M1 and M2 students and sneak in there details about the specialty #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
A4 we also take 3rd and 4th year students on clinical rotations and get them looking at slides and introduce them to the lab #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
A4 Mostly Instagram by posts and stories — I like the post interesting cases, descriptions of my typical day, myths shout out field etc! #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
Offer to give mini-lectures on lab medicine to inpatient service teams. In 5-10 min you can teach a topic to non-path residents reducing diagnostic error, show teams you exist and are accessible, and reach med students potentially interested in pathology. #capchat
— Brandy Gunsolus, DCLS, MLS(ASCP)CM (@BnrdG) August 27, 2019
#capchat From my first months I've tried real hard to get involved and improve the medical student experiences in our department, and to encourage them to give Path a real chance. Most of them don't know much about us and some are excited to discover the many, many faces of Path!
— F. Alekos Oc (@alksyyz) August 27, 2019
Even when their specialty is already set in stone, I try to show them how much Path interacts with it. My fav so far: a future Peds Onc MS4 who spent a month in Hemepath with me and left saying she would visit her hospital's path department as often as she could! #capchat
— F. Alekos Oc (@alksyyz) August 27, 2019
1. See the most interesting cases in the hospital
— Jonathan Zuckerman MD PhD (@JZRenalPath) August 27, 2019
2. Get to have coffee/take a break whenever you like
3. Majority of time is spent directly on patient care (minimal charting etc..)
4. Clinicians frequently look to us for guidance
A5 pathology is a specialty where you can have the greatest impact on the trajectory of a patient’s care ... while being able to impact so many more patients throughout your career than in most any other area! #wearekindofabigdeal #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
Q5. When I was a teen working in a #pathology lab in Florida, I asked Dr. Fred Nora if he liked his job. He said “I come to work, have fun, and they pay me for it!” Agree! I’ll add that I care for so many sick people daily & get to teach. #winning #capchat
— Jerad Gardner, MD (@JMGardnerMD) August 27, 2019
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
- We are the last word in diagnosis
- All lab tests and diagnosis come from us
- Maj. of medical decisions in healthcare are made by us
- It's not just autopsies
- Molecular Path is the future
- AI won't replace us
- #WorkLifeBalance #NoRegrets
A5: I explain that “everything your doctor takes out of you comes to us (blood, biopsy, Pap smear, appendix, tumor, etc)”.
— Maren Y. Fuller, MD (@marenwhymd) August 27, 2019
PLUS, we’re the ones that tell your doctor what it actually is (like cancer, or not cancer) #capchat
A5 pathology is a specialty where you can have the greatest impact on the trajectory of a patient’s care ... while being able to impact so many more patients throughout your career than in most any other area! #wearekindofabigdeal #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
A6. We like people! We still work with people (tho not usually patients)! It is not all autopsies! It is not ___ popular TV show! Path is fun and exciting! We are not all antisocial weirdos! Path is cool! 😎 #capchat
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
A6 - Just go to the @Pathologists #medicalstudent site curated by the amazing #RFEC team and find this bad boy to share: pic.twitter.com/qAhXhGpsTl
— Kamran Mirza, MD PhD (@KMirza) August 27, 2019
A6. I see lots of patients. Lots and lots of patients’ samples and biopsies and organs. They are all my patients, and I value and respect them even if I have not met them face to face (although rarely I do meet them). #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
A6 I tell students not to listen if others tell them they don’t seem like a pathologist and should do XYZ specialty... if I had listened I wouldn’t be here today on #capchat ! #ilooklikeapathologist
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
A7. I love the integration of science and medicine. You get to use your knowledge of cells, tissue, anatomy, and physiology and apply them to clinical situations and medical puzzles. Plus we have more set hours to have fun while at work and at home. #CAPchat
— Jason Scapa, MD (@JScapaPathMD) August 27, 2019
A7. I chose #pathology bc I wanted to have a career where I could still have the luxury of creativity & curiosity; where the problems I faced yielded answers that were actionable & made an observable & quantifiable difference; & where I always had more room to grow #capchat
— Emily Shaffer, DO (@DrMissWV) August 27, 2019
A8. Every single field of medicine is changing with all the technologic advances. Look at IHC 30-40 years ago, it revolutionized pathology. Molecular and AI will do the same, and they will rely on savvy pathologists to interpret the meaning of all that data. #capchat
— Jason Scapa, MD (@JScapaPathMD) August 27, 2019
A8 when students ask about AI and the future of #pathology I tell them that the AI will do the boring stuff like counting, measuring, basic pattern recognition etc .. and will afford us the time and opportunity to do the more interesting part of our jobs #capchat
— Matthew Cecchini (@Path_Matt) August 27, 2019
A8: Digital/AI technologies will help us do our jobs more accurately, reproducible, and hopefully more efficiently. Our value as pathologist comes not necessarily form making the diagnosis, but integrating that diagnosis into the complete clinical/pathologic picture. #Capchat
— Jonathan Zuckerman MD PhD (@JZRenalPath) August 27, 2019
A8. Diagnostic medicine is getting more complex. So many inputs: morphology, molecular, cytogenetics, genomics (+ other 'omics), AI data etc. Who will put this together in the context of the clinical information? The pathologist. Greater the complexity, greater the need. #capchat
— Ameet Kini, MD, PhD (@AmeetRKini) August 27, 2019
The future is bright! In 10-20 years we will look back on all the advances in pathology and laboratory medicine and be amazed. Bring on the new tests, digital pathology, molecular testing, all of it. Constantly improving! Lab leads the way #capchat
— Jennifer Stumph (@jrstumph) August 27, 2019
A8 pathologists role may change (slowly) but we will always be imperative to the specialty #notgoinganywhere
— Erin Carlquist, MD (@ErinCarlquistMD) August 27, 2019
Adam L. Booth, MD, FCAP is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine specializing in gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatobiliary pathology. You can follow @ALBoothMD on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.