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Objective:
Virtual presence is becoming integral to our healthcare professions and academic spheres, unfolding great potential for enhancing the sense of belonging, advocacy, recruitment, and fostering new relationships. With social media becoming a vibrant hub for the radiology community, highlighting expert leaders and trustful conduits of information in the virtual field is proving crucial. This study aimed to identify and describe the most prominent and influential figures and organizational accounts to follow in radiology.

Materials and Methods:
Influence scores for the topic “Radiology” on Twitter (currently known as X) were computed using right relevance machine learning service. Top influencers were classified according to gender, geography, physician degree, areas of influence, sub-specialization, influence score, title, affiliated institution, dual degree, medical school origin, content type, and research activity. Statistical analysis was performed assessing variable correlations.

Results:
In the top quartile of influential figures, 87% were physicians, 60% were males, and 93% were located in the United States. Prevalent backgrounds included: neuroradiology (21%), abdominal imaging (12%), and artificial intelligence (11%). Of the top 100 figures, 81% were US graduates, 97% holding medical degrees, and 28% with dual degrees; 58% provided educational content. A majority held leadership positions (58%) and academic professorship titles (70%). Median h-index, publication, and citation numbers were 14, 49, and 881, respectively. No significant correlation was noted between influence score and academic rank or research output.

Conclusion:
Having a core of influential leaders and organizations to follow can serve as a resource for the community members and aspiring students who are building a positive connected basis for radiology’s thriving future. Social media extends the influence of radiology leaders, calling for new skill sets of effective communication, regardless of academic rank or research output. It also balances gender disparity which seems less exacerbated in the virtual space compared to the physical reality of institutions. Virtual media can be an effective place to correct systemic biases and advocate for and promote underrepresented voices. By developing a solid digital presence, the community can foster a sense of unity, encourage advocacy, stimulate recruitment, and establish fresh connections, offering a vital asset for professionals and students alike.