Jerad Gardner
The Power List 2019
Jerad Gardner
Few people fit the description of trailblazing pathologist better than Jerad. As Associate Professor of Pathology and Dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Jerad is one of the leading adopters of social media in pathology, commanding an online influence of almost 20,000 Twitter followers. He uses this platform to discuss cases, disseminate valuable information from live events, and engage with an ever-growing online community.
Talking about the most unexpected moment of his career, he says, “There was a point last year when I realized that my YouTube pathology videos were being viewed every single hour of every single day, meaning that I am teaching even while I am sleeping! As an educator, that is powerful and meaningful.” Jerad speaks regularly at national and international meetings on bone and soft tissue tumors, skin disease, and the professional use of social media platforms. An active volunteer in numerous sarcoma and rare disease patient groups on Facebook, he uses the opportunity to conduct formal medical research and to advocate for patients.
“Over the next few years, molecular pathology will answer many questions, but also create many new ones. Although artificial intelligence will begin to help pathologists, it will not replace us. Also, the use of social media will become an essential skill – not just a fun hobby – for pathologists who want to get fellowships, leadership positions, or jobs,” says Jerad. His best advice? “Join Twitter now! Aside from working with the amazing mentors who made me the pathologist I am today, social media has definitely been the most powerful and effective tool in my career. It has taken me further than any paper I’ve ever published – it’s the best way to get rapidly plugged in to the global community of pathologists and, from there, the sky is the limit.”
