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When I  encounter the lack of awareness and reservations about social media among health care professionals, I am somewhat at a loss in how to address their concerns. To me, a 20-something who grew up online I can immediately see social media’s powerful potential  for health care and public health. I think the most effective way to influence  the health care industry to accept social media is for professionals to speak out . Individual voices are incredibly influential in the social space (see:  Kevin MD,  Berci Mesko, Ed Bennett, Andre Blackman, among others). Even more, when organizations embrace social media it reinforces it’s legitimacy (see: Paul Levy, President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston).

This has inspired me to answer the question, Why use social media?. Throughout the month I will post answers from different perspectives within the health care and public health fields.