During the recent World Health Organization panel and in coordination with Operation Fides, Dr. Tommy Martin of the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency delivered a presentation on social media and its benefits in maximizing essential health messages.
For the past nine months, Dr. Martin has been involved with Operation Fides, an initiative designed to stop the spread of misinformation and increase evidence-based medicine.
As a content creator and social media influencer, Dr. Martin has over 2 million followers on TikTok and other platforms. His mission as a doctor directly translates to how he approaches social media and its ability to help amplify the right kinds of information.
He uses his influence to increase access to evidence-based medicine, decrease vaccine hesitancy, and promote truth. False information spreads rapidly compared to factual data online and if there is nothing to combat that, then patients are at a disadvantage when they attempt to access vital medical information. And with the large majority of people searching for medical information online, if medical providers aren’t making relevant and evidence-based posts, then patients will find other, likely harmful, information.
Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have a combined audience of multiple billions worldwide and medical providers have the ability to access these digital spaces and to reach that global population. Not doing so is a disservice to patients.
Dr. Tommy Martin encourages other providers to approach social media with the same mindset of respect, understanding, and kindness that they implement in their professional lives.
In his call to action, he states, “You may not think that you are an influencer, but if you have one follower or person that looks up to you, then you are an influencer whether you’re on social media or not. Treat every second of every day as an opportunity to influence those around you. Being a physician makes that privilege even more important and can help us save lives.”