Forward FROM BOWDOIN AND BEYOND
SCOTT FUJIMOTO ’00
POSITIVE INFLUENCER Isolation often leads to burnout, and many health care professionals will tell you they started their social media presence in an effort to combat burnout in their professional lives— there is comfort in sharing stories and struggles with peers over social media. However, I often tell others to take a social media hiatus as a form of self-care. Disconnecting from our phones and the constant pressure of being “accessible” can be quite therapeutic. My original goal was to use social media to educate [people] about my often misunderstood specialty of interventional radiology. However, I saw early on that it was a great way to connect with medical students and premed students, and it allowed me to expand my mentorship platform. I had great mentors at Bowdoin, namely swimming coach and legend Charlie Butt. A great mentor does not just teach you the material or coach Xs and Os; they take personal interest in their students’ lives. Charlie did that, and that’s the kind of mentor I strive to be. During this pandemic, it became clear that I should share vetted and accurate information regarding COVID-19 and the vaccines. Racial inequality is a public health concern as well, however everyone should be vocal against racism—not just those with a certain number of followers or degrees in medicine or sociology. I never thought of myself as an advocate. But I’ve realized with everything going on in the world that I’ve been given this platform, so I might as well use it to make a difference. Whether that comes in the form of combating vaccine misinformation or raising awareness of anti-Asian racism, I want to be a positive influence, especially when it revolves around issues that I am particularly passionate about. For more of our interview with Scott, visit bowdoin.edu/magazine.
PHOTO: NATE HOFFMAN, COURTESY OF FIGS
Scott Fujimoto ’00, a residency program director at Loma Linda University, has more than 13,500 followers on Instagram (@docfuji), where he mixes educational content and a little bit of fun. “I found that my followers really appreciate authenticity and vulnerability,” he said. “It makes you more relatable, and that’s what I want to be.”
