Press Release
31 March 2020
#MedStudentCovid movement created by medical students and junior doctors to help tackle COVID-19 trends on Twitter
The @BecomingADr team brought together medical students across the UK with frontline clinicians, academics and key organisations including the General Medical Council to explore how best medical students could be supported to contribute to efforts to tackle COVID-19. The format for this was a national twitter chat using the specially created hashtag #MedStudentCovid by the @BecomingaDr team.
CALLING ALL UK MEDICAL STUDENTS
What can you do as a medical student during #COVID19?
Join us on Sun 29 March at 18 00 GMT for our national twitter chat #MedStudentCovid
Connect with medical students, junior doctors, academics, health leaders & key organisations #BecomingaDr pic.twitter.com/uKYdmKERjf
— Becoming a Doctor (@BecomingaDr) March 26, 2020
Happening tonight. National twitter chat #MedStudentCovid #BecomingaDr 👇@RCP_SFDN @gmcuk @BecomingaDr https://t.co/Xr1pbrIl7I
— Royal College of Physicians (@RCPLondon) March 29, 2020
Make sure you follow the @BecomingaDr account this Sunday to hear from our Medical Director, @drcolinm & our Regional Liaison Adviser for the North West, @ChrisLawlorGMC, discuss #COVID19 & answer your questions. #MedStudentCovid https://t.co/hMmKNOkttR
— GMC (@gmcuk) March 27, 2020
International examples of how medical students are contributing were also discussed. The chat was supported by leaders from organisations including NHS England, Health Education England, General Medical Council, British Medical Association and the World Health Organisation.
Look after yourselves well. Self ompassion vital to have the capacity to show others compassion@during this very difficult time. And particularly try to spend good quality time with your loved ones to ensure your well being #MedStudentCovid
— Michael West (@WestM61) March 29, 2020
To all UK #medstudents not in final year.
Please get advice from your #medschool about volunteering. Great to do but need to protect your progression through studies too, even though placements likely cancelled. #MedStudentCovid @BecomingaDr— Prof Colin R Melville 👉#stayhome #savelives (@drcolinm) March 29, 2020
#MedStudentCovid In Geneva Switzerland🇨ðŸ‡we are currently training medical students to perform swabbing for suspected #COVID19 individuals We need your help. Check with your local entities on ways you can be involved @Hopitaux_unige pic.twitter.com/oBpdLYRezf
— Prof Didier Pittet (@DidierPittet) March 29, 2020
#MedStudentCovid this is my first ever Twitter Chat! Thank-you for the invitation to join😊
What do you need to empower in yourself, so you can recognize the boundaries of your competencies and ensure the supervision you need? https://t.co/KJYXoQBgZE— Kate Burnett (@leadingmeded4u) March 29, 2020
There was substantial impact with students from across the UK tuning in, resulting in #MedStudentCovid trending at No.4 in the UK on twitter during the national discussion!
The movement has now grown to encompass global examples of how medical students are contributing to help tackle COVID-19.Â
A report will be published soon with further details and information on the next twitter chat.
As a medical student, not matter which year you are in, fighting misinformation and fake news is perhaps one of easiest but most important things you can. @ATLMedStudents have done a great job here. #MedStudentCovid https://t.co/kcTd8UzKRq
— Becoming a Doctor (@BecomingaDr) March 29, 2020
feel it needs to be said
*Everyone* is at an increased risk of #burnout during #COVID19
We (#medtwitter) are prone to perfectionism, self criticism, crippling fatigue & moreSo; Take care of you. Ask for help early. We (the #NHS) will support you however we can #MedStudentCovid
— Simon Fleming 🔨 (@OrthopodReg) March 29, 2020
Thank you to everyone for joining the first #MedStudentCovid chat! ☕
Here's a summary of the key discussion points. 📑
Join our facebook group at https://t.co/IhBI8lpGD8 🖥
Find out more âž¡ https://t.co/W80PfVGbqv #Becomingadr#Covid19 #medtwitter pic.twitter.com/Xzj1QA99aZ
— Becoming a Doctor (@BecomingaDr) March 29, 2020
ENDS
NOTES
Becoming A Doctor (@Becomingadr) is a national volunteer led organisation supporting aspiring and current medical students. The team consist of medical students, junior doctors, health leaders, patient representatives and key stakeholders.
Information from the General Medical Council can be found here
Further information? E-mail: info@becomingadr.orgÂ