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Physicians on Facebook

274 articles · Since 2007

Physicians writing on KevinMD about Facebook and social media: practice pages and patient communities, privacy and professionalism, a doctor's identity stolen for a scam, health misinformation, and the toll of the feed on physicians and their children. Most of the archive dates from 2007 to 2019.

Latest articles

The Podcast by KevinMD

Genetic test results, social media advice, and an irreversible choice [PODCAST]

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Your genetic test results now arrive on your phone before anyone is available to explain them. So the questions go to an online mom group, or to ChatGPT, and strangers answer first. Stephanie Waggel, physician and founder of Improve Medical…

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Your genetic test results now arrive on your phone before anyone is available to explain them. So the questions go to an online mom group, or to ChatGPT, and strangers answer first. Stephanie Waggel, physician and founder of Improve Medical Culture, has been watching that happen in real time. This …

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Genetic test results, social media advice, and an irreversible choice [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Why weak branding is costing private practices patients and talent [PODCAST]

Patients now choose doctors the way they shop for everything else, judging your practice online before they walk in. Ashley Gay, a branding expert, argues that a strong brand is not about ego but about earning trust, and that physicians…

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Patients now choose doctors the way they shop for everything else, judging your practice online before they walk in. Ashley Gay, a branding expert, argues that a strong brand is not about ego but about earning trust, and that physicians who ignore this are quietly losing patients and talent to competitors …

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Why weak branding is costing private practices patients and talent [PODCAST]

Social media in medicine

Why real medical experts must become medical influencers

We live in a world of over 5 billion global internet users, all connected in ways we have never seen before. We get to see the most secretive parts of people's private lives: their morning routines, their shower routines, and…

We live in a world of over 5 billion global internet users, all connected in ways we have never seen before. We get to see the most secretive parts of people’s private lives: their morning routines, their shower routines, and their “Day in the Life” vlogs.

Yet, for decades, the daily work of a doctor remained a hidden mystery, at least to anyone outside the medical world. It wasn’t like a …

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Why real medical experts must become medical influencers

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Social media in medicine

Scammers stole my doctor identity on Facebook

15 years. That's how long I'd been building my Facebook presence from grammar school friends to medical school colleagues, from former patients to the professional community I'd cultivated as a medical oncologist. Two years ago, I converted it to a…

15 years. That’s how long I’d been building my Facebook presence from grammar school friends to medical school colleagues, from former patients to the professional community I’d cultivated as a medical oncologist. Two years ago, I converted it to a business page to share evidence-based cancer information.

Then scammers stole my identity to sell fake cancer cures, and Facebook banned me while they stayed active.

The impersonation

It started with a message from …

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Scammers stole my doctor identity on Facebook

Social media in medicine

How I escaped the toxic grip of social media

Social media is an incredible tool for staying connected with loved ones and the world. But sometimes, I wonder, are we truly connected? Or is this connection merely an illusion? I was addicted to social media. I believe this addiction…

Social media is an incredible tool for staying connected with loved ones and the world. But sometimes, I wonder, are we truly connected? Or is this connection merely an illusion?

I was addicted to social media. I believe this addiction began in 2012, during my first year of medical school. That’s when I asked my father to install an internet connection, claiming it was just for study purposes. It’s a common …

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How I escaped the toxic grip of social media

Social media in medicine

Why doctors must fight health misinformation on social media

A tweet on "X" (formerly known as "Twitter"), dated Jan. 2, 2024, and attributed to Elon Musk stated: "... heavy use of C-sections allows for a larger brain, as brain size has historically been limited by birth canal diameter." For…

A tweet on “X” (formerly known as “Twitter”), dated Jan. 2, 2024, and attributed to Elon Musk stated:

“… heavy use of C-sections allows for a larger brain, as brain size has historically been limited by birth canal diameter.”

For some reason, this statement was recently circulating on social media, even though it is a year old. I first came across the statement in a Facebook group for physicians, where a colleague …

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Why doctors must fight health misinformation on social media

The Podcast by KevinMD

How social media shaming is hurting future doctors [PODCAST]

We sit down with anesthesiologist Jonathan Cohen to explore the impact of social media on the medical learning environment. Recent posts by senior physicians have sparked debate on the public shaming of trainees and the consequences for psychological safety in…

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We sit down with anesthesiologist Jonathan Cohen to explore the impact of social media on the medical learning environment. Recent posts by senior physicians have sparked debate on the public shaming of trainees and the consequences for psychological safety in medicine. Jonathan shares insights on how online behavior can affect the …

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How social media shaming is hurting future doctors [PODCAST]

Social media in medicine

I was trolled by another physician on social media. I am happy I did not respond.

I enjoy using social media (SoMe). These social communications-based, user-generated platforms part of Web 2.0 can be a great way to eat up time while scrolling mindlessly through funny posts, "how-to" cooking videos, or find breaking news updates (while being…

I enjoy using social media (SoMe). These social communications-based, user-generated platforms part of Web 2.0 can be a great way to eat up time while scrolling mindlessly through funny posts, “how-to” cooking videos, or find breaking news updates (while being mindful of source reputation, of course). In medicine, SoMe can be an exceptional tool to combat medical misinformation, evolve …

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I was trolled by another physician on social media. I am happy I did not respond.

Social media in medicine

Social media: Striking a balance for physicians and parents

We live in an always-on, information-overloaded, highlight-reel, echo-chamber world. Medical practices are increasingly relying on mobile applications and social media for communication, service promotion, and education. How can we balance social media and device use—arguably imperative activities for many of…

We live in an always-on, information-overloaded, highlight-reel, echo-chamber world. Medical practices are increasingly relying on mobile applications and social media for communication, service promotion, and education. How can we balance social media and device use—arguably imperative activities for many of us—with the other things in life that matter? And how can we, physicians using these programs both personally and professionally, serve as role models for our families and communities?

I recently …

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Social media: Striking a balance for physicians and parents

The Podcast by KevinMD

Social media’s impact on mental health [PODCAST]

Join us as we explore the profound impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young people, with our guest, Mohammed Umer Waris. As a family medicine resident, Mohammed brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and…

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Join us as we explore the profound impact of social media on mental health, particularly among young people, with our guest, Mohammed Umer Waris. As a family medicine resident, Mohammed brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and well-being, shedding light on the challenges and potential solutions in this …

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Social media’s impact on mental health [PODCAST]

Social media in medicine

Why building your social media following is critical to your practice’s success

Scrolling through social media, you might come to believe that it's only for models, foodies, and cute dogs. While these types of accounts are certainly popular, the truth of the matter is that social media is a powerful tool you…

Scrolling through social media, you might come to believe that it’s only for models, foodies, and cute dogs. While these types of accounts are certainly popular, the truth of the matter is that social media is a powerful tool you can use to propel your practice forward. With it, you can create meaningful content that changes lives, gain a loyal band of followers, and, ultimately, bring an incredible amount of …

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Why building your social media following is critical to your practice’s success

Conditions and diseases

Surgeon General’s warning: the dark side of social media on children’s mental health

It's disheartening to see the escalated trend of mental health challenges in children and teens, an issue that's becoming more and more prevalent. Daily, we encounter tales of parents grappling with their children's emotional struggles, from a professional mom taking…

It’s disheartening to see the escalated trend of mental health challenges in children and teens, an issue that’s becoming more and more prevalent. Daily, we encounter tales of parents grappling with their children’s emotional struggles, from a professional mom taking a career hiatus to aid her anxious daughter to a dad watching his previously thriving son grapple with addiction, leading to a tragic school dropout. These are not isolated incidents …

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Surgeon General’s warning: the dark side of social media on children’s mental health

Social media in medicine

Physician burnout: the impact of social media on mental health and the urgent need for change

Burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon affecting approximately 63 percent of physicians. The etiology is multifactorial, with excessive workloads leading to sleep deprivation and curtailed self-care. Social media is a significant contributor to burnout that we easily overlook. Perhaps we're…

Burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon affecting approximately 63 percent of physicians. The etiology is multifactorial, with excessive workloads leading to sleep deprivation and curtailed self-care. Social media is a significant contributor to burnout that we easily overlook.

Perhaps we’re looking for an escape on social media, but is more screen time what we really need?

How does social media use contribute to burnout?

Let’s face it; social media is a time vacuum. …

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Physician burnout: the impact of social media on mental health and the urgent need for change

Social media in medicine

From penicillin to digital health: the impact of social media on medicine

In a growing social media world population, one cannot ignore the technological invasion of the medical world. From the discovery of penicillin to electronic medical records and the digital health revolution, real medical revolutions are not too many. However, social…

In a growing social media world population, one cannot ignore the technological invasion of the medical world. From the discovery of penicillin to electronic medical records and the digital health revolution, real medical revolutions are not too many.

However, social media is disrupting the medical ecosystem and how we practice medicine. Information to the public is moving from a “push system,” where the teacher or the publisher decides what information to …

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From penicillin to digital health: the impact of social media on medicine

The Podcast by KevinMD

KevinMD interview by Cory Calendine, MD [PODCAST]

On this special episode, I'm on the other side of the microphone. It's an honor to be interviewed by Cory Calendine, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with a tremendous social media presence. Visit him on Instagram and TikTok @corycalendinemd. We have…

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On this special episode, I’m on the other side of the microphone. It’s an honor to be interviewed by Cory Calendine, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with a tremendous social media presence. Visit him on Instagram and TikTok @corycalendinemd.

We have a conversation on the explosive growth of TikTok, its …

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KevinMD interview by Cory Calendine, MD [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

KevinMD on the Stay Off My Operating Table podcast

In this special episode, KevinMD is on the other side of the microphone as he's interviewed by cardiothoracic surgeon Philip Ovadia and patient advocate Jack Heald, originally aired on the Stay Off My Operating Table podcast. He shares his perspective…

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In this special episode, KevinMD is on the other side of the microphone as he’s interviewed by cardiothoracic surgeon Philip Ovadia and patient advocate Jack Heald, originally aired on the Stay Off My Operating Table podcast. He shares his perspective on the social media-health care intersection, the physician-patient relationship, entrepreneurship …

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KevinMD on the Stay Off My Operating Table podcast

The Podcast by KevinMD

KevinMD on PermanenteDocs Chat [PODCAST]

In this special episode, KevinMD is on the other side of the microphone as he's interviewed by Dr. Alex McDonald, originally aired as a PermanenteDocs Chat presented by The Permanente Federation at Kaiser Permanente. He shares his social media story,…

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In this special episode, KevinMD is on the other side of the microphone as he’s interviewed by Dr. Alex McDonald, originally aired as a PermanenteDocs Chat presented by The Permanente Federation at Kaiser Permanente.

He shares his social media story, reasons why physicians should be involved with social media, criteria for …

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KevinMD on PermanenteDocs Chat [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

What I learned after being hacked on social media [PODCAST]

“I never thought social media hacking would offer such important reminders and lessons, but here we are. By the way, I am the first to admit that it’s easy to gloss over phrases and lessons because you’ve heard them a…

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“I never thought social media hacking would offer such important reminders and lessons, but here we are.

By the way, I am the first to admit that it’s easy to gloss over phrases and lessons because you’ve heard them a million times before, and we think we know.

But in reality, we merely …

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What I learned after being hacked on social media [PODCAST]

Social media in medicine

On the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry

Back on the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry. It’s a habit you picked up as a researcher, stuck in your lab until sunset, walking home to those empty walls. It’s one you’ve kept as a…

Back on the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry. It’s a habit you picked up as a researcher, stuck in your lab until sunset, walking home to those empty walls. It’s one you’ve kept as a medical student.

It’s always the most belligerent takes that ignite you. The ones that leap to the front line, waving old middle school science like it’s pure, unshifting truth. It needles …

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On the internet, you are looking for something to make you angry

The Podcast by KevinMD

You are what you click: Transform your social media experience [PODCAST]

"Confidence and humility are strongly related, but one arises when we focus on self, and the other arises when we focus on others. However, each attribute can become unhealthy when it becomes too extreme, or when we lose the perspective…

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“Confidence and humility are strongly related, but one arises when we focus on self, and the other arises when we focus on others. However, each attribute can become unhealthy when it becomes too extreme, or when we lose the perspective of the other attribute. In the case of confidence, we …

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You are what you click: Transform your social media experience [PODCAST]

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