Jonny – Host/moderator, introducing the social media team at the International Fluid Academy (IFA) 2018 in Amsterdam.
David – Social Media Chair for the conference.
Catherine (Beni) – A new social media team member from Seattle, USA.
Cian – Returning social media team member, participated in the previous year's IFA event.
They discuss their roles within the conference's social media coverage, including how they prepare content (infographics, posts, and video segments), their personal journeys in social media, and the various platforms they use.
Catherine's Preparations and Travels
She traveled 9–13 hours from Seattle to Amsterdam.
She was excited to see differences and similarities in how medicine is practiced in Europe compared to the US.
Creating Infographics
Catherine used Canva to design visually appealing and accurate graphics summarizing conference lectures.
She prepared templates in advance and read through presentations/papers beforehand.
Noted that a significant portion of her time was spent perfecting the infographic's look and content—sometimes losing progress and having to rebuild from screenshots.
High Engagement with Graphics
All participants agreed that infographics and visual media get more traction on social media (Twitter, Facebook) than plain text.
People frequently save, print, and share these visuals in their departments.
Online Tools and Analytics
They mention using tools like "Pocket" to curate or bookmark interesting content for later reference.
Social media metrics help identify which posts resonate most with their audiences.
Conference Social Media Teams
Cian describes how these roles evolved: reading abstracts in advance, posting content in real time, and engaging with audiences worldwide.
The group also references other conferences (e.g., ultrasound/teaching courses in Melbourne, Montreal) that have embraced active social media coverage.
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram
Twitter is favored for quick updates, "signposting" to deeper resources, and professional networking.
Facebook can be better for detailed discussions or case-based sharing (e.g., surgical cases with peer input). It also reaches a large nursing audience.
Instagram is increasingly popular, especially among medical students, and may suit visually oriented material like ultrasound clips.
Cian and Catherine both note that Twitter opened doors to collaboration and learning, even without having many publications or lengthy CVs.
WhatsApp Groups and Personal Learning Networks
The team uses group messaging for real-time coordination, workshop planning, and educational exchanges.
While beneficial, they joke about 15 notifications first thing in the morning.
The Challenges of Recognizing People In Person
Since many had only interacted online, they used Twitter photos to identify each other in a local bar.
The speakers point out that having a recognizable profile picture (rather than an abstract image) helps colleagues connect at conferences.
Potential Shift Away from Twitter
The group acknowledges that social media trends evolve quickly. Younger generations may prefer Instagram for visuals; educators and clinicians must adapt or risk "falling behind."
They predict new platforms or versions might emerge with curated discussions or more advanced features.
Ongoing Experimentation
Some foresee ultrasound demonstrations flourishing on Instagram (short video clips).
Others see Facebook as underutilized in certain specialties, given how it can host more in-depth discussions and large communities.
Preparation Yields High-Quality Content
Reading presentations ahead of time and designing infographic templates in advance helps the social media team produce polished, accurate, visually appealing posts.
Visual Media Drives Engagement
Infographics and video clips resonate strongly, making it easier for conference attendees and global followers to digest complex medical information quickly.
Platform Choice Matters
Twitter excels at real-time coverage and networking.
Facebook can offer more room for in-depth discussion (especially appealing to nurses, who represent a large segment of that user base).
Instagram is popular among students and well-suited to short, highly visual medical content.
Collaborations Transcend Borders
Social media allows people with few publications or limited conference access to learn from global experts, join personal learning networks, and build professional communities.
Adaptability is Crucial
As social media evolves, clinicians and educators need to remain flexible—learning new platforms to continue sharing and accessing the best medical knowledge.
This conversation highlights how the International Fluid Academy's social media team prepares conference coverage and leverages different platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) to reach broad audiences. They emphasize that carefully crafted visual content, proactive networking, and an openness to new technology can significantly enhance global medical education.
