Thread by @usnehal

Agree. The system has failed frontliners. Healthcare relies on shaming to control, diminish, shut down. Let’s NOT pass that on to others.

Back in spring when not enuf PPE for clinicians, and CDC & Fauci saying not to mask, I saw clinicians shaming public who WERE wearing masks.

https://twitter.com/jbullockruns/status/1330741518630469633

We lose credibility this way. Scientists already are not believed or respected. In fact, are ridiculed by many. Spoke with @ETSshow on how the “snark” culture is a self harming one for communicating in public. #MedTwitter antics reduce credibility.

explorethespaceshow.com/podcasting/umb…

Much of how scientists act would get you laughed out of a room in business, ignored, lose your seat at the table, not invited back

Blocking, deleting, snarking, shaming

is not how it works among ppl who make high powered deals

Nor does it engage public blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/d…

It is the culture of #STEM with the infamous “Reviewer 2”

"Reviewer 2 is dismissive of other people's work, lazy, belligerent, and smug."

Exposed to that constantly to get own work published we are influenced by Reviewer 2 and take on that style

arstechnica.com/science/2020/0…

Sadly, the very people universities employ to teach #STEM #communication #SciComm double down on the very problems with STEM communication. Universities seem to be investing in how to be increasingly irrelevant & further harm public trust in expertise.

nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/wh…

If you want to engage, be engaging
What works: Fun, smiles, positivity, dancing, music.

Be non-judgmental
Don’t focus on your sacrifice and what you are owed. The system & leadership failed you

Be inviting
Be human

Example: @NicoleB_MD
#SciComm #Communication #MedTwitter

https://twitter.com/nicoleb_md/status/1330604017827930119

My favorite: @DrJCoftheDC based on his effectiveness - covered by FoxNews, Good Morning America, international media, the NFL

You can’t have impact without reach

Too many in #STEM shut out/block or get shut out based on elitism & shaming

No, engage

goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story…

Let’s have more smiles, joy, inclusiveness, fun, pro-mental health, pro diversity...

..& EFFECTIVENESS

Less shaming, control, ridicule, snarks, “you owe me”, judging that self sabotages as #SciComm

Follow effective leaders, respected outside of #STEM

Good advice from @jabarocas

Those of us whose clinical work is with teens or parents often have the non-judgement skills. Yes, you can tell a teen 10x about safety. They will still test limits or think they are invincible. “Scolding schoolmarm” will not make you more effective

https://twitter.com/jabarocas/status/1330691802618269696

What we rarely admit to ourselves in #STEM is how abusive & inhumane many of these systems are to all. Tyranny of attending, Reviewer 2, PI. Plus other abuse. We accept it towards ourselves & allow it to “motivate us.

The rest of the public, no, will not accept it from us.

What I see on #MedTwitter, in addition to the baseline toxic, shaming culture of #Medicine and #STEM

is #burnout talking

With leadership failure and system failure it feels like Thanksgiving gatherings are the last straw of betrayal

It is leadership who failed, though

I wish I had answers. If I had better answers I would have accepted the CMO role. But I just couldn’t lie to people about safety & craft a narrative to match PPE supply

No, deep breathing won’t get more ICU beds of staffing. Yet, deep breathing will manage your stress response

The system and leadership has shown no compassion. Front liners are dying. No end in sight. It is awful. There is nothing about it not awful.

Somehow, though, amid this, if communicate to a public turned around by misinformation, must do so with compassion.

One reason I so admire @DrJCoftheDC: as a Black man he daily experiences betrayal by society. Many of us in #medicine & #STEM are newly frustrated, shocked, feel betrayed by how we are being treated or how we see Fauci treated (=loss of control/status)

What can we learn from trainees like @DrJCoftheDC & from #blackmensmiling on how to navigate these tough times with wisdom & patience & self care? How do you live with hope & goals to have a big impact despite how people, society, the system treats you daily with no end in sight?

How do we rise

day after day

after feeling beaten down, sidelined, dehumanized, discarded?

Where do we find this #resilience?

Maya Angelou got her #resilience from faith thru years of repeated trauma/brutality to be a source of inspiration for others. She did not derive self worth from title, status, followers, publications. Even if not thru faith, how do we find that strength?

As much as I rail against #MedTwitter there are many rainbows here. I’ll be woefully inadequate in mentioning all. A few of my 🌈 @Docbasia @DrDaniJackson @mclemoremr @DrJCoftheDC @Ned_Arick @UMassWalker @FutureDocs @ayesha_mian1 @BGlickstein @QaaliHussein1 @DrvanTilburg

More 🌈 @PedsOtoDoc @ShrimpLingSoup @NursePatMacRN @DrCSWilliam @BaeBielle @LadyDoctorSays @Suburbanbella @DrToddWo @NicoleB_MD @DrHarryThomas @ETSshow @epflcswccm @ShikhaJainMD @stephenwpatrick @PatrickConwayMD @DrDonnica @epflcswccm @HeartOTXHeartMD @RFentonMD @DrJRMarcelin

🌈 @Dagmar__Gross @gayfrose @DrNancyGlass1 @lisabari @DrHowardLiu @HomegrownJoan @sarita @InduPartha @Johnson20XX @JerrySoucyRN @jack_turban @ChaseTMAnderson @PKanagaratnam @Kidsdoc1Rick @LiangRhea @DrMonicaCox @NatsforDocs @SarahNadeemMD @DrOmolara @SaadOmer3 @DawnaMughalPhD

🌈 @DrFNA @NabihaQuadri @CQ__MD @UjjRam @rorymerrittmd @uche_blackstock @venkmurthy @TomVargheseJr @janevandis @jmugele @Overthe86335404 @shesinscrubs @NellyWeledji @nkagetsu @JulieSilverMD @AishaSChachar @JosephCSlater @jeffsimmons @alikhan28 @rscot @azranaseem @BoggildLab

There are definitely glaring omissions in this list. But that is the thing of if we choose to focus on rainbows. They are fleeting, even an optical illusion. But they are moments of beauty and joy amid the storm. Did someone once show you a kindness? Capture & cherish that moment

@threadreaderapp pls unroll