Recently, I (Dr Olvera) had the experience of a neurologic research publication I co-authored start to gain attention in the mainstream press. In short order, I was approached by a popular online news source for an interview.
When a member of my practice asked, "Have you had any media training?", I couldn't help but laugh. Why would I ever have done that? I don't want to be a "celebrity doctor." Are nearly 14 years of schooling and training not enough?
Although I thought it was a ridiculous question at the time, what I've learned since then has taught me otherwise. In our increasingly online and interconnected world, having a familiarity with social media and other sources of information is an important aspect of the art of practicing medicine.
Many have noted the causes of burnout afflicting neurology and other fields of medicine: increasing patient volumes, attrition of doctors, the advent of electronic medical records, and mounting financial pressures. This has led to a deterioration in the doctor-patient relationship, as the quality time we spend together continues to decline.
It probably will not surprise any practicing clinician that despite our 30-minute semi-yearly appointments with our patients, we may no longer be their only source of health information.
'On Message': Lessons From One Doc's Inadvertent Media Tour
COMMENTARY
'On Message': Lessons From One Doc's Inadvertent Media Tour
Caroline Olvera, MD; Abhimanyu Mahajan, MD, MHS
DisclosuresFebruary 02, 2022
Recently, I (Dr Olvera) had the experience of a neurologic research publication I co-authored start to gain attention in the mainstream press. In short order, I was approached by a popular online news source for an interview.
When a member of my practice asked, "Have you had any media training?", I couldn't help but laugh. Why would I ever have done that? I don't want to be a "celebrity doctor." Are nearly 14 years of schooling and training not enough?
Although I thought it was a ridiculous question at the time, what I've learned since then has taught me otherwise. In our increasingly online and interconnected world, having a familiarity with social media and other sources of information is an important aspect of the art of practicing medicine.
Many have noted the causes of burnout afflicting neurology and other fields of medicine: increasing patient volumes, attrition of doctors, the advent of electronic medical records, and mounting financial pressures. This has led to a deterioration in the doctor-patient relationship, as the quality time we spend together continues to decline.
It probably will not surprise any practicing clinician that despite our 30-minute semi-yearly appointments with our patients, we may no longer be their only source of health information.
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Cite this: Caroline Olvera, Abhimanyu Mahajan. 'On Message': Lessons From One Doc's Inadvertent Media Tour - Medscape - Feb 02, 2022.
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Authors and Disclosures
Authors and Disclosures
Author(s)
Caroline Olvera, MD
Movement Disorders Fellow, Department of Neurology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Disclosure: Caroline Olvera, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Abhimanyu Mahajan, MD, MHS
Disclosure: Abhimanyu Mahajan, MD, MHS, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Received research grant from: Dystonia Medical Research Foundation; Parkinson's Foundation; Sunflower Parkinson's Foundation