Like and Share: Responsible Social Media Use for Today’s Oncologist

As social media becomes an increasingly influential tool in medicine, many oncology professionals are engaging on platforms to stay informed, share research, and connect with colleagues. However, despite its growing relevance, formal training in the professional and ethical use of social media remains limited. Most oncology fellows have not received structured guidance on how to navigate the legal, privacy, and institutional considerations necessary for responsible online engagement. Fellows may be unsure how to balance personal and professional identities, avoid HIPAA violations, and manage online interactions with patients or the public. Additionally, many physicians express concern about the potential reputational risks and time burden associated with social media use, which can lead to underutilization of these platforms or inconsistent engagement practices.

At the same time, social media presents a powerful opportunity for oncology professionals to educate the public, promote evidence-based information, and counteract the growing spread of cancer-related misinformation. Without a clear understanding of how to use these tools effectively and ethically, fellows risk missing critical opportunities to contribute meaningfully to public discourse and professional communities online. This educational activity seeks to address these gaps by equipping oncology fellows with the knowledge and skills needed to engage with social media in a strategic, professional, and impactful way.

Target Audience

This program is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses, PAs, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who manage patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Following this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify professional standards, ethical considerations, and institutional policies governing appropriate social media use in oncology.
  • Distinguish between effective and inappropriate uses of social media for education, patient engagement, and professional communication.
  • Apply strategies to promote evidence-based information and counter misinformation on social platforms while maintaining professional integrity and protecting patient privacy.
Additional information
Supporters: 

This activity is supported by educational grants from:

  • Taiho Oncology, Inc.
  • Revolution Medicines

Supported by an independent educational grant from Daiichi Sankyo.

This educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK. 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.50 AAPA Category 1 CME credit
  • 0.50 ACPE contact hours
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.50 ANCC contact hours
  • 0.50 Participation
Course opens: 
06/15/2026
Course expires: 
03/01/2027
Part of: 
Recorded Presentations from the NCCN 2026 Oncology Fellows Program: New Horizons in Quality Cancer Care™
Shikha Jain, MD
University of Illinois Cancer Center  
 
NCCN Continuing Education Disclosure Policy
 
It is the policy of NCCN that all planners, faculty, moderators, authors, reviewers and anyone involved in the planning and delivery of NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose ALL financial relationships they have had in the past 24 months with ineligible companies. The ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence require that individuals who refuse to provide this information will be disqualified from involvement in the planning and implementation of accredited continuing education presented by NCCN. NCCN identifies, mitigates and discloses to learners all relevant financial relationships.
 
In addition, all content has been reviewed to ensure education promotes safe, effective patient care and does not promote the products or services of an ineligible company. Content, including any presentation of therapeutic options, is fair, balanced, evidence-based, scientifically accurate, and free of commercial bias and marketing. 
 
Definitions  
 
Ineligible Company: An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. 
 
Relevant Financial Relationships: Financial relationships of any dollar amount occurring within the past 24 months are defined as relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of an ineligible company. There is no minimum financial threshold. We ask for disclosure of ALL financial relationships with ineligible companies, regardless of the amount and regardless of the potential relevance of each relationship to the education.
 
Faculty Disclaimers  
 
All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation for the tasks and methods of delivery. Faculty presentations may include discussion of off-label use. Faculty will disclose that the use in question is not currently approved by the FDA per the product labeling or marketing.
 
Faculty Disclosures
 
The faculty listed below has the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for this individual have been mitigated. 
 
Shikha Jain, MD
BeiGene: Product/Speakers Bureau 
Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Product/Speakers Bureau
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Product/Speakers Bureau
Pfizer Inc.: Product/Speakers Bureau
 
NCCN Staff Disclosures
 
None of the planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
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In support of improving patient care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physicians: NCCN designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses: NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.5 contact hour.

Pharmacists: NCCN designates this knowledge-based continuing education activity for 0.5 contact hour (0.05 CEUs) of continuing education credit. UAN: JA4008196-0000-26-050-H01-P

PAs: NCCN has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 0.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credit. Approval is valid until March 1, 2027. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Available Credit

  • 0.50 AAPA Category 1 CME credit
  • 0.50 ACPE contact hours
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.50 ANCC contact hours
  • 0.50 Participation
Please login or register to take this course.

Required Hardware/software

To complete this activity, users will need: 

  • A device with an Internet connection and sound playback capability (speakers or a headset) 
  • Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for certificate viewing/printing