Social Networking Goes Professional
by Jessica E. Vascellaro
Aug 28, 2007
Page: D1
Click here to view the full article on WSJ.com
TOPICS: Social networking, Social Professional Networking
SUMMARY: When radiation oncologist Michael Tomblyn recently saw a 21-year-old patient whose eye was protruding from its socket, he turned to his fellow physicians for help. Dozens of doctors offered suggestions, including fungal infection, HIV-associated lymphoma or a cocaine-associated sinus problem, eventually steering him toward the correct answer: rhabdomyosarcomma, a fast-growing cancer most often observed in young children.
CLASSROOM APPLICATION: This article teaches students that there are several consumer technologies that can be used in obtaining and sharing professional knowledge and information. It also presents students with an opportunity to become entrepreneurial in considering the development of new sites by learning from Daniel Palestrant who launched Sermo.com when he was a surgical resident in Boston. Students could brainstorm the creation of other innovative health care sites.
QUESTIONS:
1.) What is Sermo.com? Visit it. Evaluate your experience.
2.) Define social networking. What are some advantages? Disadvantages?
3.) What are some do's and don'ts for using social-networking sites? Have you ever used a social-networking site? If so, which one(s)? Any more do's and don'ts to recommend?
4.) In addition to social networking, identify and discuss other consumer technologies for crossing over into the corporate world.
5.) How can social-networking sites offer many new services free to members? Present at least two examples.
Reviewed By: Dennis S. Palkon, Ph.D, MPH, MSW, Florida Atlantic University