As IMCAS Academy becomes more active on Twitter there are certain doctors' names that constantly pop up, one of those names is Dr. Daniel Liu. With constant positive and educative tweets, he is an inspiration to all those who follow him.

Dr. Liu forms part of our speaker list for the IMCAS World Congress and is an excellent plastic surgeon, a researcher, a social media expert, and much more, so IMCAS Academy believed it was important to get to know him a little better.

1. What first inspired you to become a reconstructive microsurgeon?

I was smitten on my very first day as a medical student in the operating theatre: maxillary reconstruction following tumor resection using radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap. That case represents our specialty with a perfect balance of technical finesse, aesthetics, anatomy, and technology. I am constantly humbled that our patients trust us to do so much with the human body.

2. What three words would you use to describe your profession?

Virtuostic, meticulous, ambitious.

3. You have a huge following on Twitter of over 20 000 followers. What do you consider the main benefits/opportunities in having a strong presence on social media as a medical professional?

Social media has become deeply gratifying on a professional level to connect with like-minded specialists across the world to instantly share ideas and advice to advance plastic surgery. On a personal note, Twitter allows me to pursue my passion to reach an unprecedented audience for educating the public about breast reconstruction. I can realistically operate on a few thousand patients in my career, and I believe that social media provides a unique platform to educate other medical professionals and exponentially more individuals who may benefit from our shared experience.

4. What particular challenges does having a strong social media presence pose to medical professionals and how do you deal with such challenges?

Being an engaged participant in social media requires time commitment and paying attention to social media metrics for self-improvement. Perhaps the most significant challenge is creating interesting content that is not solely promotional. For me, it can be fun to present highly technical topics in less than 140 characters and try to entertain at the same time.

5. How would you define your approach to social media?

My primary goal on social media is to teach as many people as possible about the breadth of plastic surgery and the importance of proper training in our constantly evolving specialty. I make sure to respond to questions, encourage my peers, and support anyone in need whenever possible. Original content demands more time, and I feel that we should apply the same attention to detail to curating content as we do in our daily professional lives.

6. Who do you consider an important influence or inspiration in your professional life?

Several of my mentors and the resilience of my patients inspire me every day. A few of the top innovators in microsurgery (Peter Neligan, JP Hong, Ed Rodriguez) have taught all of us that brilliant curiosity coupled with perseverance can dramatically enhance the quality of life in patients that we serve.

7. Which medical advancement or invention would you have liked to have made?

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was one of my childhood heroes, best known for his work on the microscope and the establishment of microbiology. His expertise in glass processing led to perhaps the most significant technical insight in the history of science, by handcrafting tiny glass spheres to become the lenses of his microscopes. This simple tool, leading to major discoveries in bacteriology, pathology, histology, and anatomy, has touched all of our lives. More directly, the advent of the modern operating microscope and surgical loupes has created the indispensable discipline of microsurgery. I am sure that my colleagues in neurosurgery, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology would agree that we are continually humbled by what we can achieve with technology.

8. If you had to choose just one procedure to perform for the rest of your career, what would it be and why?

Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) free flap breast reconstruction because it is an incredibly valuable procedure for many patients, and it never gets boring when you realize that every operation represents an opportunity for improving efficiency and minimizing morbidity. The nature of the clinical problem and anatomical variations create infinite combinations for flap design, inset, and technical refinement.

9. What is your main passion outside of the clinic?

My family is my passion. Strong, positive relationships help us build trust and feel supported. This fundamentally begins in the home and should be applied to all aspects of life.

10. What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I abandoned an early career as a professional violinist because I realized that I probably could not make it to the top. My advice would be to pursue your interests for balance, but know your limitations and learn to appreciate the immense talent of everyone around you.