Movember: Stand with Our Patients and Engage as Widely as Possible

This is a Guest Post by Dr. Rajiv Singal.

Many of my colleagues often ask about the point of engaging in “social media.”  Like me, they probably first heard about Facebook a few years ago, and only see it as a tool best left to kids and celebrities.  About a year ago, I decided to explore social media a little harder. I noticed that virtually every journalist I respect, every news outlet, and even most medical societies had a Twitter page.  The potential for engaging with colleagues, and promoting issues that are important to our patients and our specialty, soon became obvious to me.

International Urology Meetings Cannot Compete with Engagement Fostered by #UROJC

Dr. Stork recently wrote a piece about the first year anniversary of International Urology Journal Club on Twitter that uses the hashtag #urojc.  Perhaps the most impressive part of this experiment has been how #urojc has engaged a large group of urologists from around the world to establish unique professional relationships. Our international meetings, often attended by over 15,000 urologists, can never compete with this reach.

Movember: Engage as Widely as Possible

As many of you know, every November since 2003, a grassroots campaign has occurred to promote the goals of prostate cancer and men’s health.  Of course, I am talking about Movember.  Last year, $120 million was raised around the world, and I suspect this year will be even better. I have always felt that Urologists should take a lead role this month, to stand with our patients, and engage as widely as possible. I wrote about my own personal motivation last week in a piece for the British Journal of Urology International.

Through my relationships with my #urojc colleagues, I hope to make Movember 2013 the biggest yet. I was invited to write a guest post on the site of Australian urologist (and fellow urotwit) Dr. Nick Brook.  Our very own Dr Stork, in the spirit of international cooperation, and to present a common front in the care of our patients, has joined my local Toronto East General Hospital Department of Surgery team.  I have been given notice that several of my international colleagues will also cross borders to join.  The month has only begun, and I have already raised over $5,000. You can visit my donation page  if you would like to contribute to me, support Dr. Stork, or simply get “mo-ing”  yourself.  The women in our lives can join us as “Mo-Sistas”.

Brian and I look forward to a great Movember 2013!

Dr. Rajiv Singal is a Urologist at the Toronto East General Hospital, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.

Follow him on twitter at @DrRKSingal.