With more than 5,700 Twitter followers, Dr. Garry Choy (@GarryChoy) has the second-highest following among radiologists on Twitter. As part of our ongoing series on radiologists who tweet, AuntMinnie.com (@AuntMinnie) spoke with Choy, who is a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
AuntMinnie: Why did you decide to start tweeting?
Choy: When I realized how powerful a communication tool and discovery engine Twitter is!
How much of your day do you spend on it?
Not enough! I wish I had more time to spend on Twitter to have the conversations about topics I am interested in.
Dr. Garry Choy believes social media tools such as Twitter are powerful for healthcare professionals.What topics do you like to tweet about?
I like to tweet about topics in my area of professional interests, which include healthcare IT, telemedicine, healthcare management, and quality improvement.
Do you participate in live Twitter events such as tweet chats?
Occasionally, and I highly recommend it as it is an easy way to have an online conversation with like-minded individuals. A notable tweet chat occurs weekly, including #hcsm (healthcare social media).
Are there specific instances when you find Twitter to be particularly valuable, such as during conferences?
Twitter is particularly useful during conferences to network onsite, but it's also important and an easy way to follow a conference that you cannot attend in person. I often feel like I'm there when I follow colleagues who are tweeting at conferences. I've also learned from other specialties of medicine by following tweets from attendees who are onsite.
What tools do you use for tweeting and following Twitter? TweetDeck, HootSuite, etc.?
I have used HootSuite. HootSuite is a great way, especially for practices, to manage their social media presence. Social media is very powerful for brand management, and, frankly, great for business. A tool like HootSuite makes it easy to leverage social media for needs such as marketing and communication. I often get asked about how a practice or department can best leverage social media -- HootSuite is a way to make it happen. I'm happy to show colleagues and practices how to use tools like HootSuite to best manage their social media presence.
What other social media tools do you use for work purposes, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, etc.?
I use mainly social networking sites like LinkedIn, ResearchGate, radRounds, and Doximity for professional purposes. I reserve Facebook for personal use. Social media tools like Twitter are powerful tools for healthcare professionals, including radiologists, of course, for networking, collaboration, business development, and practice management.
Who do you follow?
I mainly follow academic societies (both radiology-focused and nonradiology), journals, business publications, universities, radiology practices, hospitals, individuals -- physicians, scientists, and luminaries -- start-up companies, and vendors.
Do you do anything specifically to try to build your following?
I've utilized multiple strategies but, most important, I simply use Twitter to communicate with other professionals. By having a conversation or sharing the most relevant and interesting topics (quotes, retweets), my following has grown exponentially since I started using Twitter. I also make the best use of relevant hashtags and follow other "Twitter etiquette."
Are there any topics that are off-limits in terms of things you tweet?
I never tweet anything personal, confidential, any content related to patient care, or anything I would not want published on the front page of a newspaper.
Do you have any "success stories" of connections you've made over social media that you feel have justified your time investment?
Most definitely. I've had way too many success stories, which I'd generally categorize into news, people, and outreach.
I've made meaningful connections with people who have had a positive impact on my business and academic endeavors.
With respect to news, I've discovered new technologies and learned from content I first noticed via Twitter and LinkedIn -- social media keeps me up-to-date constantly.
With outreach, I've had the opportunity to help others who have made requests via Twitter -- clinicians, industry executives, consultants, and even patients (never patient care, but have helped with referrals and general patient education topics and questions).
Do you feel that Twitter and other social media tools are primarily for radiologists to communicate with peers, or do you also see a role for contact with patients? If so, what?
I do see a role for social media for contact with patients, but only if certain principles are followed. Privacy and professionalism are key best practices. As above, I have interacted with "patients" on social media but strictly professionally and as I would if a patient asked me a question at a conference or in a public forum. I have been asked to help on referrals for the best places for certain imaging tests or surgical procedures, for example. I've also been asked questions about CT dose and radiation.
How would you respond to someone who questions the value of spending time on Twitter and social media?
Social media's return on investment for the individual and practice are a strong positive. Give it a try and you will see the value. It's good for business. It's good for professional development. It's also interesting and a powerful communication and discovery tool.
Do you have any suggestions for someone who is new to Twitter or is thinking about joining?
Give it a try! Feel free to contact me @GarryChoy with any questions -- I would be happy to help you out and show you how it can be used for you not only as an individual physician but also for your practice.
