News · Invited talk
Can social media advertising ever be “good”?
At the 2nd Rheumatology Health Professionals Congress, I discussed health professionals’ presence on social media through ethics, professional responsibility, science communication, and current regulations.
Held at İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University on 24–25 September 2026, the congress brought together health professionals from different disciplines to discuss current issues in rheumatology.
In the “New Skills for Health Professionals” session, I argued that being visible online has become an important part of professional communication. That makes it essential to distinguish visibility from advertising, science communication from promotion, and professional information from commercial content.
Health information should do more than attract attention. It should be evidence-based, transparent about uncertainty and potential conflicts of interest, and compliant with current regulations. A trustworthy social media voice is an extension of professional responsibility into digital spaces.
I thank Congress President Denislav Orlinov and Prof. Dr. Gülşah Kaner for their kind invitation, as well as the organizing committee and the students of İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University who contributed to the congress. Producing scientific knowledge matters; sharing it accurately and responsibly with society matters just as much.
