Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
10:17
Improving Student Outcomes with an Adaptable Molecular Cloning Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience
Published on: November 15, 2024
1.4K
#TwitterHomework During Pathology Electives: Transforming Pathology Pedagogy
Hans Magne Hamnvåg1, Austin McHenry1,2, Aadil Ahmed1,3
1From the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois (Hamnvåg, McHenry, Ahmed, Trabzonlu, Mirza).
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|February 11, 2021
Summary
Medical students found Twitter useful for pathology education and professional networking. The platform facilitated knowledge sharing and connections with experts, demonstrating its value in medical training.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Digital Health
- Pathology
Background:
- Twitter is a widely used platform for professional communication and knowledge sharing in various fields.
- Pathologists increasingly utilize Twitter for case discussions, educational content sharing, and professional networking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of Twitter as an educational and networking tool for medical students during pathology electives.
- To assess if original content creation and content curation on Twitter enhance medical knowledge and professional development.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study involving surveys administered to medical students who participated in pathology electives.
- Assessed student perceptions of Twitter's usefulness for knowledge acquisition and networking.
- Utilized Twitter analytics software (Symplur Signals) to quantify networking potential through retweets and impressions.
Main Results:
- Most surveyed students found Twitter helpful for increasing medical knowledge and for professional networking.
- During the study period, 37 students generated 527 original tweets, which received 3,399 retweets from 810 users, resulting in over 6.3 million impressions.
- The majority of retweets originated from pathologists and pathology residents, indicating significant engagement from the professional community.
Conclusions:
- Twitter serves as a valuable educational tool for medical students during pathology electives.
- The platform offers substantial networking opportunities, as evidenced by high engagement metrics and the professional demographics of users interacting with student-generated content.
