This article was authored by Gina Lundberg, MD, FACC, a member of CardioSmart’s Editorial Board.

The Women in Cardiology Section’s (WIC’s) Brown Bag session during the 66th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.17) was highly promoted on social media, especially Twitter, which led to the presence of many social media leaders and novices in the audience. The hashtag #ACCWIC was one of the most used hashtags during ACC.17. Claire Duvernoy, MD, FACC, chair of the WIC Section, and Sandra Lewis, MD, FACC, immediate-past chair of the Section, were among those most active on Twitter.   

The ‘Benefits of Social Media for Cardiologists’ were presented by myself, Sharon Mulvagh, MD, FACC, and Jennifer Mieres, MD, FACC. We have been active on social media for several years. We explained the basics of Twitter and other social media platforms, and how to get started. We also explained how social media reaches other physicians, researchers and community groups with science and ideas. Academic medicine and promotion are affected by social media importance and reach. It is a great way to meet and collaborate with other thought leaders online. Special guest Robert Harrington, MD, MACC, a member of the WIC Section Leadership Council, is a veteran tweeter and provided his reasons for being active on social media, mainly to engage in the conversation. 

Chadi Alraies, MD, and Sheila Sahni, MD, both Fellows in Training and influencers on social media, were in the audience sharing the session, live tweeting with pictures and video. ACC President Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC, is also a great supporter of Twitter and is an example of how to use Twitter to reach the public as well as other ACC members.

Later in the session, Catherine M. Otto, MD, FACC, spoke on getting published and navigating the review process. She is the editor-in-chief of Heart and provided tips on how to write manuscripts that will be accepted. She encouraged WIC members to turn a speaking event into a review article or submit an editorial on the topic. She also recommended turning everything you do into a publication. After all, you’ve done all the background research and work so you just have to write it and submit it. She recommended finding a journal that will be interested in your research and then look into their publishing guidelines.  Otto also strongly recommends having your data laid out in visually appealing graphics.

Past ACC President Pamela Douglas, MD, FACC, spoke to WIC members on ‘Working with the C-Suite.’ She encouraged us to consider leadership roles since physician CEOs have a greater impact and higher rating for success than non-physician CEOs. She pointed out that the clinical leader and the administrative leader work as a dyad. This is a formula for health care success, ACC leaders working with administrators to improve health care process, measurements and outcomes. She said physicians only make up less than five percent of CEOs, but they perform 33 percent higher in rankings.

This year’s Brown Bag was organized by Olivia Kranz, ACC staff liaison to the WIC Section. Her team did a great job with getting things organized and providing our heart healthy lunch. Olivia also made sure everyone received an ACC Hashtag Flipbook for referencing ACC’s official hashtags. Special thanks to Olivia for all her hard work! And thank you to the WIC Leadership Council for continuing to provide high quality programs on a variety of topics to our members through the WIC Lounge programs, as well as the Brown Bag lunch!

Follow our WIC Social Media Leaders:

@MinnowWalsh              @HeartBobH                    @DrJMieres                  @DrSheilaSahni

@ClaireDuvernoy            @OttoEcho                      @HeartDocSharon         

@SandyLewis                 @Gina_Lundberg              @PamelaSDouglas          @Olivia_Krz