This presentation was created to expand physician's thinking about how their Twitter presence can be leveraged to build professional networks, educate, respond to crises, and more.

1. Pediatric Grand Rounds – The Use of Social Media in Medicine
Getting the Most Out of Your Medical Twitter Account
John Little, Manager, Physician Relations
Date: February 6, 2011

2. (Just a Few) Things You Can Do With Twitter
1. Promote clinical trials (or any other document)
2. Get plugged in
3. Participate in focused discussions
4. Share photographs and other images
5. Share desktop screencasts
6. Go mobile
7. Start a revolution

3. Promote Clinical Trials
Instantly share IRB approved clinical trial flyers
with a global audience
1.Uploaded approved flyer to web server
2.Shorten URL at http://bit.ly
3.Paste trial title and URL into Twitter update
box.
4.Done!
Why Bit.ly?
1.Shortens URL – Twitter limits you to 140
characters
2.Metrics. See how many people click on your
links.
This process works with any file type. It isn’t just for
clinical trials.

4. Get Plugged In
Twitter is more than communication. Like
Google it provides access to content.
1.Keyword searches
2.Follow key accounts
3.Create lists
Use http://search.twitter.com/advanced for
complex searches by person, place, keyword,
exact phrases, even attitude!
Example Searches:
“Pediatric Cancer”
cancer AND children
pediatrician OR pediatrics

5. Get Plugged In
Twitter is an excellent tool for professional
networking and subject matter exploration.
1.Keyword searches
2.Follow key accounts
3.Create lists
Use http://listorious.com/ to search for and to
follow other experts. Following others builds
your knowledgebase and your visibility. They
will see that you’re following – and likely follow
back.

6. Get Plugged In
Twitter is more than communication. It’s
access to content.
1.Keyword searches
2.Follow key accounts
3.Create lists
Twitter list feature allows you to group the
people you follow by topic. Viewing the list
will show only the updates from those listed.
Lists can be private or public.
List Ideas:
Professional organizations, Health care media,
Colleagues, Private “friends” list, Patient
advocates, Pharma, Personal interests

7. Focused Discussions
Hashtags are keywords that “tag “ a
conversation so that readers can easily find all
relevant tweets/comments. They’re great for
conferences!
Creating a hashtag is easy
1. Any word in your tweet that starts with a
pound sign is a hashtag. That’s all you have to
do
Twitter makes hashtags “clickable”
automatically. Clicking on one reveals the
entire conversation thread. You can create
your own or use others (as long as your input
is relevant).
Examples:
#mdacctrials
#pediatrics
#oncology
#ASPHO2010

8. Share Images
Sharing photos is easy. It can even be done
from your mobile device while on the move.
TwitPic is a favorite
1.Create a free account - http://twitpic.com
2.Connect your TwitPic and Twitter accounts
3.Upload an image via the web or via email on
your mobile device
4.Add a description
5.The description and a shortened link to your
image will be automatically tweeted for you.

9. Share Screencasts
Screencasts are videos of activity on your
desktop which can include a voiceover. They
are ideal for sharing dynamic presentations.
Screenr
1.Create a free account - http://screenr.com/
2.Select the visible area (window) on your
desktop that you want to record.
3.Record a voiceover with your PC
microphone as you move through the
presentation
4.Add a description
5.Hit submit and the screencast will be
tweeted with a short URL and your description

10. Go Mobile
There are countless Twitter applications for
your phone and other mobile devices.
Apple devices:
Search the App Store from your device
Blackberry:
http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/features/
social/twitter.jsp
Android:
Search the Android Market
Third-Party Apps
Tweetdeck, Twitbird, Seesmic, Hootsuite
Find More
http://www.technobuzz.net/twitter-mobile-
apps/

11. Start a Revolution
Or manage a crisis.
Twitter (along with Facebook) has become the
fastest way to coordinate relief efforts and
organize people.
Social media networks are broader and faster
than global news networks or government
intelligence services.
The marriage of SMS (phone texting), mobile
An Egyptian doctor gives out medical supplies in front of an army tank during clashes in #Tahrir square #Jan25
multimedia devices (phone w/ cameras and
video) and social media allows faster and more
comprehensive communication than ever
before.
You are your own network.

12. Go Mobile

13. Getting Started
Communications and Physician Relations are Here to Help:
John Little
Manager, Physician Relations
http://twitter.com/physrelations
jlittle@mdanderson.org
(713)745-8383
Jennifer Texada
Program Manager, External Communications
jtexada@mdanderson.org
(713)563-0000