Professional Social Media Presence: on Reflection, Transition, and Identity Crisis

I am a physiotherapist, registered in good standing with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario, currently working as Interim Manager of an inpatient medicine unit. As I embark on my hospital leadership journey, I acknowledge that I have a lot to learn about healthcare through the lens of a growing leader. I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Health Studies with a Leadership Focus through Athabasca University. As part of my first course, MHST 601, I was asked to conduct social media and professionalism audits for

myself, and to develop a social media plan. I have used this as an opportunity to reflect on what my current online presence is, to acknowledge that I am truly in a state of transition, and to re-evaluate how I would like to exist online professionally moving forward.

I have personal Facebook and Instagram pages, which I use mostly to share pictures and updates of my children and dog with my close friends and family. Although I rarely use Twitter or LinkedIn, I do have active accounts on these platforms, and I have a small social media presence professionally on Facebook and Instagram. My goal for posting publicly has been to advocate for my profession when it felt like we were being overlooked, and to amplify frontline voices at a time when misinformation was spreading wildly. I have been very mindful about what I post, ensuring that I am using language that is truthful but professional, knowing that I am representing my profession and my hospital even when posting on my private page.

In order to maintain my registration, I must abide by the many college standards laid out by our college, which were created in the interest of protecting the public that we serve (CPO, 2022). Physiotherapy is a profession with an inevitable power dynamic between provider and patients. I felt this dynamic was especially strong when I worked at the bedside in the hospital setting, where patients are at their most

vulnerable. I take professionalism very seriously, in my current role and when I was at the bedside. As a hospital physiotherapist it was my duty to treat my patients with dignity and respect, and to ensure that they felt safe, often during the most trying time in their lives. Now that I am a manager, the same principles apply but in a different way. The way that I conduct myself can serve to inspire the staff on the unit I work on, or it take the wind out of their sails if I am not careful.

As a hospital employee, I also must abide by hospital policies, procedures, and codes of conduct that are specific to my organization. When I was working on the frontline of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by media outlets. Before doing these interviews, I made sure to connect with the communications department of my organization to better align myself with the values of the hospital when I spoke.

Now that I am in a formal leadership role, I am re-evaluating my professional social media presence. My brand is different now. I can’t say that I am “speaking raw truths from the frontline” anymore, as I am no longer working in a frontline capacity. The image of myself with my scrub cap, scrubs, mask and visor (which has been my profile picture for my professional accounts) is actually no longer who I am professionally. I find myself at a crossroads during this period of transition. As a manager, what kind of

presence is appropriate? Should I still be posting my reflections online?

Lately my posts have been more about transformative growth and the beginning of my leadership journey. I still find it cathartic to write and share in this way. After some reflection, my goal is to allow a slow transformation to exist in my social media accounts, honouring who I was, but allowing myself to let go of what no longer serves me. I can grow and change online while respecting and being proud of the past version of myself, acknowledging that this person paved the way for who I am now and who I strive

to become.

References:

College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO). (2022). Rules & Resources. Retrieved

on September 10, 2022 from: Rules, Standards and Resources - College of

Physiotherapists of Ontario (collegept.org)