Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) CEO Omar Ishrak launched a Twitter account a month ago, but hasn’t tweeted much.
So who are the loquacious healthcare social media types that people may turn to for 140-character long pithy wisdom?
Here’s a short, subjective list, partly gleaned from tweepz.com and just plain old reporting. I have chosen Twitter users who keep their tweets healthcare related, and not necessarily about the last bagel they ate, even if they don’t always have a large following.
I eschewed medtech types that are into platitudes such as, “Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.” (I am not really into positive energy nonsense.). Also, this list excludes rockstar tweeters like Lee Aase – everyone who is interested in healthcare social media and hasn’t been living under a rock is already following him (@LeeAase).
So in alphabetical order, here are a few notable tweeters:
Patrick Driscoll (@medmarket).
Twitter bio: “Analyst, medtech business writer, blogger, and publisher on new medtech. Contented father and husband. Purveyor of sarcastic commentary.” 1,817 followers
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Recent tweet: States ranked by percent obese highlights pervasive negative trend http://ow.ly/1dKGnd
Victor Montori, MD (@vmontori).
Twitter bio: “Mayo Clinic diabetes doc + researcher from Peru working for a patient revolution vs. healthcare corruption, and for treatments that fit patients.” 1,402 followers
Recent tweet: The patient voice – the need for a minimally disruptive medicine service: http://t.co/U6hjnL0
John M. Reid (@JMSReid)
Twitter bio: “Med Tech CEO – Urology. Assessing/Managing/Treating Prostatic Obstruction. Everett Rogers and John Gourville’s work., providing sound guidance along the journey.” 88 followers
Recent tweet: Being hospitalized not healthy esp in July effect: New interns ‘perfect storm’ for higher mortality rates: http://t.co/F3lfCns via @addthis
Wendy Sue Swanson MD (@SeattleMamaDoc)
Twitter bio: “Mother, pediatrician & blogger for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Using my friends in and out of the hospital to understand.” 4,455 followers
Recent tweet: “The absence of evidence does not mean that treatments don’t work. [It] points out the need for more information.”http://bit.ly/pArwu3
Chris Thierfelder (@Hamlet)
Twitter bio: “Over-scheduled med-tech innovator. Fatal weakness: still cookies.” 2,915 followers
Recent tweet: You may not like it, but this is some fearless innovation. I want a corner office. A 3-corner office. http://nyti.ms/n53I3k
