As a physician who loves to create and share social media content, I realized there aren’t a lot of tips or guidelines available when it comes to posting, specifically as a #medfluencer. I’ve had to learn the hard way, taking bits and pieces from mentors, fellow creators, and my own experiences. There have been a lot of growing pains when it comes to posting and I thought with new resident physicians who may want to grow an online presence just around the corner (hello July 1st) it makes sense to share my own top 10 tips for social media posts, especially as a “medfluencer.”

Take these or leave them but they helped me on here and I hope they help you 👩‍⚕️

1. Be original, be unique, be you. Don’t compare yourself to others. Quality beats quantity any and every time. While it's true that people often find success with "niching" themselves, I am of the philosophy that these platforms are for us to share what makes us happy, inspires us, surprises us, or teaches us something new that we can share it with others. So I suppose you could say my niche is lifestyle with a mix of any and everything. Other people prefer a niche of only medicine or only fashion, only food, only [fill in the blank] meaning whatever topic they are most passionate about.
2. If you have to question it, don’t post it. If you’re second guessing yourself there is probably a reason so listen to your gut. It can help to have a second opinion by someone else to give you an outside perspective whether it's a photo, video, or even a caption. Generally if you're unsure, it's best to move on and go in a different direction.
3. Check your facts then check them again. It is so easy to re-post and re-share an image, a quote, or a caption you see online. As a result the spread of misinformation is rampant. Cite your sources whenever possible/indicated because credibility is huge both on and offline.
4. Speaking of credit, don't forget to credit your inspiration - whether a song, a dance, a quote, etc. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery as long as it is clear who inspired you. However, stealing or plagiarizing another person's work is wrong.
5. Adhere to HIPAA so you do not jeopardize patient care or privacy. This is especially true for all the aspiring #medfluencers out there. Take into consideration the environment you're in not only when you're shooting content but also when you're posting it.
6. Follow your job duties/social media policy. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the policy at the organization where you work. It can help to meet with the marketing team as well to ensure you are following the guidelines.
7. Be professional and kind. This is also a networking opportunity and a chance to build connections both in and outside your field. Engage with others and don't be afraid to ask questions. We all started somewhere.
8. Be wary of brands reaching out, especially when it comes to conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas. Think of the disclosures you have when it comes to presentations. Also think of the prevalence of scams. Don't give out personal information unless you're 100% sure it's a legitimate company.
9. Be supportive of others. Being a #medfluencer comes with the ability to connect with others who also love to show what it means to practice the ART of medicine. Liking, commenting, sharing, saving, and re-posting are all great ways to lift one another up on here. I'm in several local as well as international social media groups online where we share tips and advice for one another. It's also a great way to make friends :)
10. Have fun! This is a chance to explore your creative side and balance out the left side of your brain, known for its logical and analytical thinking with the right side of your brain, known for its more artistic and imaginative nature.

Additionally, some of my favorite FREE apps for photo and video editing include:

LightRoom, Snapseed, FaceTune, ReTouch, Canva, Mojo, Picsart, InShot, and CapCut.

What tips do you have? Leave a comment below

The dream is free, the hustle is sold separately. In medical school I was voted most likely to switch careers and go into Hollywood. My response? "I can do both!" Because when you want something badly enough, you put in the work. You power up to push yourself and see it through. Finally recapping the Jaanuu photoshoot in LA for you all! Jaanuu is an innovative and inclusive scrub company that offers high quality apparel to help healthcare professionals perform at their best. The fabric is designed for ultimate comfort, style, and functionality, with durable, moisture-wicking, as well as wrinkle, fade, and odor-resistant properties. The company offers a variety of styles engineered for medical professionals always on the go.

It has been a whirlwind of holiday cheer and reasons to celebrate despite some of the difficulties we are facing in healthcare and the community at large. One of the biggest difficulties I recently shed light on was the cost of education. I shared how I helped pay for my medical school tuition through competing in Miss America pageants. See the Reel below:

My message resonated with so many people around the world. Several of you wanted to find out exactly how to get involved in pageants. I hope the following information on the who, what, why, when, where, and how gives you better insight and inspires you to start your own journey!

For more on my pageant experience click HERE. Keep in mind this post is specifically talking about Miss America (Congratulations to Miss America 2022, Emma Broyles, who won $100,000 in scholarship assistance along with a six-figure salary plus benefits for her year-long reign). There are several other pageant organizations but I am not as familiar with these and cannot speak to their requirements, their rewards, or the cost.

Who can compete?

According to Miss America's website, you can compete if you:

• Are between the ages of 17 and 25 years old
• Are a United States citizen
• Meet residency requirements for competing in a certain city or state
• Must reside in state of competition
• Be enrolled in and physically attending classes on a full-time basis at an accredited college or university
• Be employed on a full-time bases in the state in which you intend to compete
• Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss America Organization
• Be in reasonable good health to meet the job requirements
• Be able to meet the time commitment and job responsibilities as set forth by the local, state, and national competition(s) in which you compete
• Here is the complete list of eligibility requirements

What is involved in competing?

There is a $35 registration fee, which gives you the chance to win a $1000 scholarship right from the start. In addition, you must complete an application that includes a social impact statement, your resume, and come up with a talent (mine was dance one year and singing the next). My platform was STEAM: Adding Arts to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The only additional fundraising I did to become a contestant was raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). Miss America has raised over $6.9 billion in donations for CMNH and continues to be a proud partner. Learn more HERE. It is an incredible cause and actually led me to volunteer at our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital.

Why compete?

As described on the Miss America website, "[t]he organization stands for empowering young women across the country to be the best they can be through leadership, talent, communication skills and smarts." In several cases, a lot of growth and development happens behind the scenes. What you see on stage is only a small part of the experience. Competing for Miss America pageants gives you the opportunity to gain valuable life skills, earn scholarship money (regardless of winning), discover new interests, make lifelong friendships, achieve goals, foster a positive mindset, receive recognition for community involvement, and develop a sense of responsibility for helping others.

Miss America gives you access to exclusive professional development series with experts in:

• Public Speaking
• Advocacy and Fundraising
• Resume building
• Career and Networking opportunities
• Health and Wellness
• Financial Literacy
• Performance, Press, and Social Media training

When to compete?

Where to compete?

How to compete?

With Halloween just around the corner, I figured it was time we talk about a topic that makes many feel like they are wearing a costume - and not just for the holiday: Impostor Syndrome.

Defined as a psychological phenomena of doubting one’s abilities and feeling like a fraud, Impostor Syndrome disproportionately affects high-achieving individuals, especially women. They struggle to accept their accomplishments, doubt their skills and abilities, and question their success and intelligence. These feelings of insecurity can be associated with stress, anxiety, and depression. It can occur in work environments, academic settings, and with social interactions. 

The role of attending physician comes with a lot of expectations set by mentors, colleagues, patients, friends, family, and especially oneself. Such standards can easily by overshadowed by the fear of failure, which is why recognizing the pattern before internalizing the emotions is so important.

The rest is building your confidence, knowing your self-worth, and increasing your self-esteem. If you're dealing with Impostor Syndrome, follow these five steps below to help you overcome it:

1. Recognize the syndrome for what it is so you can process and address it. This may be seen as using minimizing language or downplaying your success. There are several different types of impostor syndrome as well including the Perfectionist, Natural Genius, Expert, Soloist, and Superwoman/Man (see below).
2. Remind yourself of your own accomplishments and what it took to get where you are today. Review your resume and personal statements to solidify your purpose. It is true what they say - you know more than you think you do. Trust yourself with this knowledge.
3. Reinforce your perspective with the help of others, reach out for support and guidance. Find a mentor and role model who will inspire and encourage you.
4. Represent yourself and the person you have grown to become. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of opportunities that challenge you and further your career. DO NOT let impostor syndrome hold you back from fulfilling your passions.
5. Review what you have done so far to find areas of improvement. This may mean writing things down and seeking out others for feedback and constructive criticism. Be better than you were yesterday and strive to be the person of tomorrow.