2026 BUMC Proceedings - Clicks, credibility, and consequences: social media's impact on medical professionalism

CE BROKER: For Texas physicians who have updated their EthosCE profile, credit claimed for this activity will be reported to CE Broker.

Abstract 

The rapid expansion of social media has fundamentally altered how physicians communicate with colleagues, patients, institutions, and the public. While online platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for education, networking, and professional identity formation, they also introduce significant risks related to patient confidentiality, professional boundaries, liability, and public trust. Seemingly, casual posts can have serious consequences. Best practices include protecting patient privacy, assuming permanence, having separate personal and professional identities, using disclaimers, knowing institutional policies, monitoring one’s online presence, and staying within one’s scope of practice. By cultivating mindful and professional online practices, physicians can shape a digital footprint that aligns with the values of the medical profession and supports high-quality patient care.   

Keywords:  Digital ethics; HIPAA; medical professionalism; online professionalism; physician identity; social media

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Faculty credentials/disclosure 

The planners and faculty for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors report no funding. 

Process

Click the "add to cart/begin" button, pay any relevant fee, take the quiz, complete the evaluation, and claim your CME credit.  You must achieve 100% on the quiz with unlimited attempts available.

  • By completing this process, you are attesting that you have read the journal article.

Expiration date:

Credit eligibility for this article is set to expire on September 1, 2027.

Learning Objectives

After completing the article, the learner should be able to:

  • Reflect upon beneficial and harmful uses of various social networking sites. 

  • Describe tips for proper use of social networking tools. 

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Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) MOC Part 2

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

  • 1.00 American Board of Surgery (ABS) Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 1.00 Ethics
  • 1.00 Attendance
    • 1.00 Ethics
Course opens: 
09/01/2026
Course expires: 
09/01/2027
Cost:
$25.00

Thomas Cox, PsyD, Cristie Columbus, MD, Julie Higginbotham, MA, Emily Reynolds, MS, and Megan Crowe, BA 

Department of Graduate Medical Education, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA 

Corresponding author: Thomas Cox, PsyD, Faculty Development and Research Education, Baylor University Medical Center, 3500 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246 (e-mail: [email protected]) 

The planners and faculty for this activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors report no funding. 

Accreditation

The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABS CC

Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

ABIM MOC

 Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Meets Texas Requirements for 1 Hour of Ethics/Professional Responsibility Credit

Available Credit

  • 1.00 American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) MOC Part 2

    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

  • 1.00 American Board of Surgery (ABS) Accredited CME

    Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The A. Webb Roberts Center for Continuing Medical Education of Baylor Scott & White Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 1.00 Ethics
  • 1.00 Attendance
    • 1.00 Ethics

Price

Cost:
$25.00
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