Daniel Spratt, MD, and Todd Morgan, MD discuss the role of social media in medical and scientific communication with Charles Ryan, MD.   All three agree that social media, especially Twitter, helps to provide quicker access to breaking information at congresses when it is not possible to attend the live meeting.   This communication outlet also typically provides more expert opinion and commentary that is typically not available in the publication.   However, they all point out the concern that this information cannot be over-interpreted as it is not peer-reviewed information.   Overall, they agree that when used correctly, social media provides timely access to breaking data.

Biographies:

Todd Matthew Morgan MD Associate Professor Specialties: Urology Area of Practice: Prostate Cancer, including robotic prostatectomy and active surveillance; Bladder Cancer, including bladder preservation approaches as well as open and robotic radical cystectomy; Kidney Cancer, including open and robotic approaches, and nephron-sparing (i.e. partial nephrectomy) when appropriate; and Penile Cancer, including robotic inguinal lymphadenectomy. Michigan Medicine Urology Oncology Clinic | Rogel Cancer Center

Daniel Spratt, MD, Tenured Full Professor of Radiation Oncology and a leader in Prostate and Spine malignancies. Chief of the Genitourinary Radiotherapy Program, Associate Chair of Clinical Research, and the Laurie Snow Endowed Research Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Co-Chair of the Genitourinary Clinical Research Team and co-Director of the Spine Oncology Program, in the Rogel Cancer Center, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Charles J. Ryan, MD, the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Charles J. Ryan is an internationally recognized genitourinary (GU) oncologist with expertise in the biology and treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Ryan joined the PCF from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where he served as Director of the Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation Division in the Department of Medicine. He also served as Associate Director for Clinical Research in the Masonic Cancer Center and held the B.J. Kennedy Chair in Clinical Medical Oncology.