Social Media Residency Details

The Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media (MCCSM) is holding its first Social Media Residency Oct. 20-21 in Rochester, Minn. The program is open to the first 80 enrollees; for details on how to register, see this post.

Overall Course Philosophy

Just as medical residency is more advanced than medical school, our Social Media Residency offers more than social media basics. Still, it’s easily accessible for motivated beginners who want to accelerate learning.

To meet the broad spectrum of needs, we’ve designed curriculum that includes pre-requisites and a quick self-study preparation program to help novices gain initial experience. We also provide resources for social media residents to connect and learn from each other before, during, and after the on-campus program.

We maintain a resident/faculty ratio of no greater than 8:1 to facilitate and ensure experiential learning. We use experienced mentors (hereinafter termed Chief Residents or Chiefs) drawn from MCCSM staff and External Advisory Board or Internal Advisory Group members.

Our first priority: creating a dynamic learning experience. To this end, our Residency offers a mix of didactic, small group and hands-on pedagogy – learning tools by using tools. Some online training will take place in “safe spaces” where beginners can feel free to experiment, but we also require participation in public hands-on activities using online social platforms to develop comfort and confidence.

Prerequisites

Before arriving at the Mayo Clinic campus for Social Media Residency, we expect residents to have read through the entire handbook and completed homework assignments.

In addition, residents are required to set up these personal (i.e., not employer-related) accounts:

• permanent, personal email (e.g., gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo)
• Twitter account
• Facebook profile
• WordPress.com (not necessarily a blog, just an account)

Our handbook will provide step-by-step guidance for setup (including screen shots), as well as tips and best practices for getting started.

Course Handbook

Residents receive advance readings in PDF documents as available and the full handbook in 3-ring binder format upon arrival in Rochester. The completed handbook may be printed and bound for future courses.

Faculty members and External Advisory Board members have contributed chapters or essays to inform discussion.

Hands-On Learning Platforms

MCCSM staff will create various accounts and platforms to:

1. give novices step-by-step instruction for creating their own accounts; and
2. as an environment for publishing and sharing before, during and after the program.

Residency Matching

As in medical residency, we have a “matching” process for our Social Media Residency. We also ask residents to complete a survey to help us better understand their needs, interests, experience and type of organization they represent. Based on the survey, we place them in cohorts of up to 8 residents and assign a Chief Resident. During the Thursday-Friday Residency these cohorts work and learn together.

We ask each chief to be in touch with cohort members individually before they arrive in Rochester, and to meet briefly with them as a group as early as possible during Summit week. Course handbooks are distributed at this meeting. While cohorts are not required to sit together during the Summit or Member Meeting, doing so is encouraged to create a bond among residents and with their chiefs.

Rounding

Just as medical residents go on morning hospital rounds to learn from peers and more experienced physicians, our residents will round with their chiefs. Rounding, part of each rotation, involves group reviewing and critiquing each resident’s accounts (and/or those of their employers) as well as any other examples (good or bad) the chief may choose to introduce.

Course Outline

For a schedule of topics to be covered, download the Social Media Residency Curriculum Plan.

Registration

Tuition for the Social Media Residencyis $845, but for members of the Social Media Health Network, it is discounted to $645. Registration is now open.