Curated Resources on Social Media and Professionalism in Healthcare
Introduction
Navigating professionalism and digital identity is essential for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) in Ontario. While laboratory work is often behind the scenes, how we present ourselves online can impact our professional credibility, networking, and knowledge sharing. The following resources provide guidance on digital professionalism, regulatory expectations, and strategies for purposeful social media use. Engaging with these materials helps me maintain a professional online presence while staying connected to evidence-based information and regulatory standards.
Professional and Regulatory Resources:
1. National Standards for MLTs
Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). (2023). About CSMLS. https://csmls.org
Annotation:
CSMLS outlines professional standards, ethical conduct, and continuing education for laboratory professionals across Canada. This resource helps me understand how my online behavior and professional development are interconnected, reinforcing accountability beyond the lab.
2. Provincial Guidelines for Professional Conduct
College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO). (2024). About CMLTO. https://www.cmlto.com
Annotation:
CMLTO regulates practice in Ontario and ensures that MLTs maintain competence, follow ethical standards, and protect public trust. Reviewing these guidelines emphasizes that professionalism extends to digital spaces, guiding how I share information online.
Scholarly Reference:
1. Healthcare Professionals and Misinformation
Sheng, A. Y., Gottlieb, M., Bautista, J. R., Trueger, N. S., Westafer, L. M., & Gisondi, M. A. (2023). The role of emergency physicians in the fight against health misinformation: Implications for resident training. AEM Education and Training, 7(S1), S48–S57. https://doi.org/10.1002/aet2.10877
Annotation:
This article highlights the increasing responsibility of healthcare professionals to balance digital visibility with accuracy. It reinforces my approach to selectively using platforms like LinkedIn and YouTube, ensuring that my online activity reflects professionalism and evidence-based information.
2. Purposeful Content Curation
Wolff, A., & Mulholland, P. (2013). Curation, curation, curation. In Proceedings of the 3rd Narrative and Hypertext Workshop (pp. 1–4). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/2462216.2462217
Annotation:
Wolff and Mulholland discuss curating digital content intentionally rather than accumulating information indiscriminately. Applying these principles allows me to manage my social media presence thoughtfully, balancing learning, engagement, and professional visibility.
Summary
These resources collectively emphasize the connection between professionalism and digital identity for healthcare professionals. They support my approach of maintaining a limited but purposeful online presence, focusing on LinkedIn for professional updates and YouTube for personal enrichment. Understanding regulatory expectations, the risks of misinformation, and strategies for content curation enables me to project a professional image while upholding the standards of my profession. Engaging with these resources strengthens my professional growth and reinforces the values of reliability, integrity, and mentorship in both online and offline settings.