title: Social Media in the Dental School Environment, Part A: Benefits, Challenges, and Recommendations for Use.
abstract: Social media consist of powerful tools that impact not only communication but relationships among people, thus posing an inherent challenge to the traditional standards of who we are as dental educators and what we can expect of each other. This article examines how the world of social media has changed dental education. Its goal is to outline the complex issues that social media use presents for academic dental institutions and to examine these issues from personal, professional, and legal perspectives. After providing an update on social media, the article considers the advantages and risks associated with the use of social media at the interpersonal, professional, and institutional levels. Policies and legal issues of which academic dental institutions need to be aware from a compliance perspective are examined, along with considerations and resources needed to develop effective social media policies. The challenge facing dental educators is how to capitalize on the benefits that social media offer, while minimizing risks and complying with the various forms of legal constraint.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. hspallek@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spallek
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Sharon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donate-Bartfield
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAndrew
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarkowski
authors.affiliation: Dr. Spallek is Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Associate Professor of Dental Public Health, and Executive Director of the Center for Informatics in Oral Health Translational Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Turner is Dean and Professor of Oral Health Practice, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry; Dr. Donate-Bartfield is Associate Professor, Marquette University School of Dentistry; Dr. Chambers is Professor of Dental Practice, University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry; Dr. McAndrew is Clinical Professor, Senior Director of Professional Development, and Program Director of Teaching in Dental Education Fellowship, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Zarkowski is Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Detroit Mercy; and Dr. Karimbux is Professor of Periodontology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Nadeem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karimbux
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D002961:Civil Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D063045:Crowdsourcing; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry / Q000193:education; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D018973:Intellectual Property; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D011050:Policy Making; D024382:Professional Role; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D061108:Social Media / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D060756:Social Networking; D013335:Students, Dental; D014481:United States
keywords: Web 2.0; dental education; educational technology; information management; legislation and jurisprudence; privacy; professional ethics; social media