Missed opportunity: Neuroradiology training programs and social media

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the degree to which the academic neuroradiology community is embracing social media in its messaging. The hypothesis was that, compared with peer neurosurgery and neurology programs, a majority of neuroradiology programs would actively engage through Facebook and Twitter accounts. MATERIALS AND METHODS. An Internet search was conducted for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram accounts for the 75 National Resident Matching Program–registered U.S. neuroradiology fellowship programs and their division chiefs and for the neurosurgery and neurology social media accounts of the same institutions. The content and audience responses of the neuroradiology accounts were categorized. RESULTS. Only 8 of 75 neuroradiology programs had one or more social media accounts. Neurosurgery (odds ratio, 5.9; 95% CI, 2.5–14.0) and neurology (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.3–7.9) had a significantly greater social media presence than neuroradiology did. Larger neuroradiology programs (five or more fellowship positions) had significantly greater likelihood (odds ratio, 7.6; 95% CI, 1.6–36.4) of having social media accounts compared with those with fewer than five positions. Division chiefs had accounts on LinkedIn more than other media. Few neuroradiology chiefs actively engaged professionally on Facebook and Twitter. Most neuroradiology programs used social media more for recruitment and program information than for education, research, or patient information. CONCLUSION. Most neuroradiology training programs do not have social media accounts and do not use social media for education, engagement, recruitment, or research promulgation. Neurosurgery and neurology programs have more but still limited World Wide Web representation. There is an opportunity for neuroradiology programs to have greater impact in this arena.