Join us May 21 at 3:00PM EST for a live, interactive tweetchat with Philomena Asante, MD, MPH, Jasmine Marcelin, MD, and Linda Girgis, MD, on racial/ethnic microaggressions. Points to be discussed are subject to change but will likely include:

  • Situations in which an incident of microaggression due to race/ethnicity from patients, other colleagues, or support staff was handled well by a colleague or supervisor and what that individual specifically did or said that was effective.
  • Situations in which an incident of microaggression due to race/ethnicity from patients, other colleagues, or support staff was handled poorly by a colleague or supervisor and what that individual specifically did or said that was ineffective.
  • How victims of microaggression due to race/ethnicity would want a colleague or supervisor who witnesses the incident (the bystander)  to respond both in real time and after the incident.
  • Tools and resources used by victims of microaggression due to race/ethnicity to help cope, based on first- of second-hand experience(s).
  • How chat participants would want a (generally supportive or well-meaning) colleague or supervisor who is accused of microaggression (the micoraggressor) to respond both in real time and after the incident.
  • Whether or not chat participants received formal training as a medical student, resident, fellow, or attending on how to handle microaggression in the clinical setting; if so, whether the training was useful; and if so, what specific tools they learned about.
  • What more could be done, at individual & institutional levels, to reduce microaggression in the clinical setting, including approaches taken by participants’ institutions.
  • More…

How to Join the Chat

  1. Log into your Twitter account. Don’t have an account? Where have you been?! Just kidding, we don’t judge, but you should get one! It’s easy to create, and free. You’ll be glad you did.
  2. A couple minutes before the chat, Search Twitter (top right of every Twitter page) for #PWChat.
  3. On the search results page, click Latest at the top left. This will show you all the latest tweets using the #PWChat hashtag. The page will automatically update every couple minutes, letting you know how many new tweets there are using the #PWChat hashtag.
  4. Answer questions, reply to other’s comments, or make a comment of your own as much and as often as you like. Just make sure to leave room in include #PWChat to make sure what you tweet is included in the chat. Otherwise, it won’t be seen.
  5. While you’re at it, be sure to follow @physicianswkly, @philoasantemd, @DrJRMarcelin, & @DrLindaMD.  

About Dr. Asante
Philomena Asante, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician and Medical director of Northeastern University Health And Counseling Services (@NU_UHCS), the former Director of Child & Adolescent health with Boston Public Health (@HealthyBoston), the leader of Diva Docs Boston (@divadocsbos)–a social support network for black women in medicine in greater Boston–and a member of  PROWD (Promoting and Respecting Our Women Doctors) Women (@PROWDWomen).

About Dr. Marcelin
Jasmine R Marcelin, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases and the Associate Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is also the mother of two, wife of Dr. Alberto Marcelin, an advocate for Diversity and Inclusion in Medicine, and is passionate about medical education and using social media as a platform to achieve both of these goals. She is one of the co-administrators of the UNMC ID Blog and social media accounts.

About Dr. Girgis
Dr. Linda Girgis MD, FAAFP, is a family physician who treats patients in South River, New Jersey and its surrounding communities. She holds board certification from the American Board of Family Medicine and is affiliated with both St. Peter’s University Hospital and Raritan Bay Hospital. Dr. Girgis also collaborates closely with several universities and medical schools where she teaches medical students and residents. Originally from Pennsylvania, Dr. Girgis attended the St. George’s University School of Medicine and successfully her medical degree. She went on to complete her internship and residency at Sacred Heart Hospital, a program affiliated with Temple University. During this time, she was recognized as intern of the year by the faculty. Over the course of her practice, Dr. Girgis has continued to earn awards and recognition from her peers and a variety of industry bodies, including:

• Top Innovator in Healthcare award by Quality Insights, 2006
• Patients’ Choice Award, 2011-2012
• Compassionate Doctor Recognition, 2011-2012
• Bridges to Excellence Recognition 2012-2015
• NCQA Physician Practice Connections – Patient Centered Medical Home, 2012-2015

Additionally, she is the Editor-in-Chief of, Physician’s Weekly. Dr. Girgis also blogs for MedicalPractice Insider and is a guest columnist for Medcity News and Health IT Outcomes. She published articles in several other media outlets. Recently, she has authored the books, “Inside Our Broken Healthcare System” and “The War on Doctors”. She has been interviewed in US News, on NBC Nightly News, and many other media outlets. Dr. Girgis’ primary goal as a physician remains ensuring that each of her patients receives the highest available standard of medical care.

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