Ep 194: Navigating the Wild West of Social Media, with Dr. Courtney Deer

Episode DescriptionIn this episode of the "So You're a Vet, Now What?" podcast, host Dr. Moriah McAuley is joined by Dr. Courtney Deer, also known as er.dvm on social media. They discuss the challenges of sharing educational content on social media and how to respond to negative comments. Dr. Deer shares her experiences and insights on how to navigate these challenges as a veterinarian.Dr. Deer also encourages recent and new veterinarians to develop their own presence on social media and build their personal brand to further connect with their audience and spread educational content.Another key point highlighted in the episode is the importance of building a community and protecting mental health through social media. Dr. Deer emphasizes that being a presence on social media is crucial because clients and patients need the support and information that veterinary clinics can provide. By actively engaging with followers and creating a safe and supportive environment, veterinary clinics can foster a sense of community.Dr. Deer does however acknowledge that dealing with negative interactions and trolls is inevitable, but they emphasize the importance of minimizing those interactions and focusing on building a positive community. They mention that by nurturing a community and engaging in meaningful discussions, the veterinary profession can move forward and make progress.Overall, the episode emphasizes that building a community and protecting mental health can be achieved through social media by actively engaging with followers, fostering meaningful discussions, curating the community, and blocking negative influences.Episode Outline[00:02:49] Challenges of sharing educational content.[00:03:57] The wrong side of social media.[00:08:46] Controversy around pet food.[00:11:25] Mental fatigue in the veterinary profession.[00:15:01] Internet anonymity and online behavior.edifying manner.[00:22:22] Developing content for clients.[00:24:41] Developing communities on social media.Quotes"So many people love to talk about how I got 10,000 followers how I got 50,000 followers That means nothing if they're all just people who are not contributing to what you're trying to do""I still have days where I am like, I'm the dumbest veterinarian ever. How did they let me in? How did they let me graduate? How did I get an internship? How have I not been fired?""Like as the commenter, to say something like that to someone you've never met, whose intentions are pure, and are to literally help those around them. What does that say about you?""Please get on social media. Please build out those brands because like we talked about earlier, if we're not there putting out the correct information, then these poor pet parents and our patients are going to suffer, quite honestly, because we cannot provide all the information to everyone that we want to just by the people who are coming in through our doors."Episode LinksDr. Courtney's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/er.dvm/?hl=en-gbMentioned in this episode:So You're a Vet, Now What? - The CourseAre you a new or recent veterinary graduate? If so, Dr. Dave’s course, ‘So You’re a Vet… Now What?’ has been put together specifically for you. The course focuses on non-clinical skills. This is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, almost every career problem that people face is due to not having well-developed, non-clinical skills. These are skills like client communication, so you have great relationships with clients. Emotional intelligence, so you've got great relationships with your teammates. Effective negotiation skills, so you can get paid what you are worth.