NEPHMADNESS: LESSONS FROM SEVEN YEARS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MEDICAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Metcalfe’s Law states that the value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of connected users.1 So, networks with few users provide low value and each additional user increases the value of the network exponentially. This law makes it particularly difficult for newer, smaller networks to grow because they are low value due to their low population. At the beginning of the decade (circa 2010), nephrology social media was a new, small network. At that time, a core group of bloggers envisioned a large network of engaged and academically minded nephrologists participating in an active, multifaceted, always-on conversation to provide support, answer questions, discuss journal articles, and share resources. To promote this vision and entice nephrologists to participate, they presented at hospital-wide grand rounds, resident teaching rounds, and national meetings.2 Convincing individuals to sign up for a social media account with the intention of professional use was difficult, but even if a person successfully signed up to Twitter, new users would not know what to do, where to look for like-minded nephrologists, or how to engage with peers. Beyond the issue of how to use social media was the fundamental problem that the value proposition of the nephrology social network was low due to its limited size and activity.

Keywords

• social media
• medical education