SGEM#35: We are Young (Social Media and Medical Education)

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Date: May 5th, 2013

This is a follow-up to Episode#30: My Generation. Every five episodes or so I like to deviate from the case based evidence based medicine (EBM) formula where we critically review an article or topic.

The goal of TheSGEM however remains the same, to cut the knowledge translation (KT) window from 10 years to 1 year. This is so you the listener can provide the best EBM care to the patients you treat. It uses social media to turn Med Ed on its head.

TheSGEM is part of the Free Open Access to Medical Education or FOAMed. Episode 30 was well received. It looked at the generational tension the SGEM has created between baby boom faculty and Gen Y learners. These two groups have different priorities, styles, and goals among other things. Information technology and specifically social media has been embraced by the Gen Ys more so than the boomers.

TheSGEM has empowered students to have the latest, greatest, EBM in the palm of their hand. They also can listen to the podcast when working out or turn their car into a classroom. And while they may have the information readily available in the lecture hall or at the patients bedside they may also lack the experience to put this information into perspective.

Episode 30 discussed these issues BUT and yes there is a BUT, one of TheSGEMs skeptical listener (and she knows who she is) correctly pointed out two things. The first was that all the guest on the show were boomers. The second constructive criticism was that they were all men. So I have searched high and low for a group of Gen Yers to provide that “fair and balanced” perspective.

Today have three very bright and talented students joining TheSGEM. Alia taught the twitter lecture at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada(SRPC) meeting last month in Victoria BC. I was immediately impressed with her and enjoyed the presentation. Hope you didn’t mind I was tweeting through the whole lecture. Jimmy a medical student who will be working with me this summer on a new social media project we are launching this fall. And Beth is the third guest who I also met at SRPC and went wow! She attended my lecture on social media, kept me on my toes, how, by asking questions and being a skeptical. Yes she is Gen Yer who is skeptical of all this social media stuff and how it fits into medical education and life.

Alia the twitter expert (@alia_dh):

How do you see twitter fitting into medical education?
Do you think you can teach complicated topics like medicine in 140 characters or less?
Do you think it is rude to twitter during lecture?
How about on clinical rounds?
How does it make you feel when a patient twitters during visit?

Jimmy the social media machine (@Jimmy_Yan):

What pod casts would you recommend? Surgery 101 and JMTM podcast
How do you handle the issue of professors not being up to date?
What expectation do you have that your professors to be up to date on the latest evidence based medicine?
Do you think professors should be listening to pod casts and why?

Beth the social media skeptic:

Why are you skeptical of social media?
Do you think there is a role for social media in med ed?
Do you think there should be course taught to students AND professors on social media?
What do you think is the BEST aspect of social media?

BEEM Bottom Line: The #SoMe world is an extension of you as a learner; so as on the wards, be thoughtful, curious, respectful, humorous, and use good grammar!

KEENER KONTEST: Last weeks winner was my very first resident from years and years ago. And because he was my first resident that also makes him my # one resident. Super smart guy…Dr. Travis Nairn, of Owen Sound. He correctly knew that the first person described in 1899 to have a post LP headache was Dr. Bier himself. Talk about commitment to research and talking one for the team.

Be sure to listen to for this weeks Keener Kontest question. If you are the first one to email me the correct answer at TheSGEM@gmail.com with “keener” in the subject line you will receive a cool skeptical prize.

Don’t forget to follow the SGEM on twitter @TheSGEM and like us on Facebook (it only takes one click).