20 Biggest Influencers in Healthcare

It’s time for healthcare to go digital and the biggest influencers in healthcare industry are fast changing the ways we look at health! Social media and Twitter have led to the cropping up of influencers in all fields of interest and healthcare is definitely one of them.

We no longer rely wholly on our good old neighborhood health specialists for our healthcare information but click, follow and connect with the biggest names in the industry, that bring us the inside tips and tricks of the trade. From getting fast information on health updates to seeking inspiration for better health practices – these few Twitter accounts and personalities are the ones that netizens are looking up to. Healthcare twitter hashtags like #HealthTalks and #PatientExperience are considered good sources to get quick public opinion now!It’s time for healthcare to go digital and the biggest influencers in Healthcare industry are fast changing the ways we look at health! Social media and Twitter have led to the cropping up of influencers in all fields of interest and healthcare is definitely one of them. We no longer rely wholly on our good old neighborhood health specialists for our healthcare information but click, follow and connect with the biggest names in the industry, bringing us the inside tips and tricks of the trade. From getting fast information on health updates to seeking inspiration for better health practices – these few Twitter accounts and personalities are the ones that netizens are looking up to. Healthcare twitter hashtags like #HealthTalks and #PatientExperience are considered good sources to get quick public opinion now!

So, who are considered as healthcare influencers? Do health professionals with big numbers on their follower lists only qualify to be influencers? Healthcare Influencers are not restricted to doctors or physicians. There is a wide range of entities who can be considered as health influencers, and the concept is not just limited to health professionals and doctors. Basically, any social media profile or personality that affects the health decisions of a significant number of people can be considered an influencer in the healthcare domain. The top healthcare Twitter accounts include health practitioners like Kevin Pho and Atul Gawande, and also organizations working towards health motives like WEGO health. Even inspiring individuals sharing their personal health struggles and insights like Barby Ingle are among the best public health Twitter accounts.

Influencers are not only a thing of the present. Sure, Twitter has blown up the concept of healthcare influencers to whole new proportions, but, there have been numerous influencers in healthcare throughout history. They are the ones who have paved the way for the modern day influencers. Read about the biggest influencers in history who have changed the way we think.

Even though healthcare in social media space is quite beneficial to a lot of people providing quick dissemination of crucial information, it is also not entirely without challenges and drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks of using Twitter in healthcare is the lack of all-round patient medical history. This is the reason many health professionals hold back in providing information to online patients. As opposed to “a face-to-face”, in-depth diagnosis, just an online consultation can lead to the missing out of important patient information that can cause complication and misdiagnosis. That’s why Twitter for healthcare professionals is a thing that they often avoid. Also, while more and more doctors are getting on board the social media train, skeptics aren’t exactly a thing of the past. Traditionalist doctors still account for a large percentage of professionals who wonder if legitimate healthcare can even be provided in the cyberspace.

 On that note, let’s take a look at our list of digital health influencers who have indeed carved their niche in the business and have made a difference to several lives online. We have made our list of biggest influencers in healthcare by sourcing Twitter account information from Klear, BuzzSumo, and Followerwonk and also considered the list by MHA Degree, to sum up, all the healthcare biggies on Twitter and ranked them by their follower numbers. Take a look!

20. Andrew Spong

@andrewspong

Twitter Followers: 14.9k

Providing pharma communications and being a healthcare activist on Twitter, makes Andrew Spong a legit influencer with over 14.9k followers looking out for his posts. Spong leads two healthcare brands, Health Equals and Patients Included.

19. David Harlow

@healthblawg

Twitter Followers: 16.3k

Yet another advocate for #DigitalHealth. David Harlow is an influencer looking out for the legal aspects of healthcare. The healthcare lawyer, consultant and speaker blogs at HealthBlawg and explains about the legal framework around healthcare and remedies that patients can seek.

18. Families USA

@FamiliesUSA

Twitter Followers: 16.3k

Healthcare organization Families USA that ranks 18th on the list of biggest influencers in healthcare is committed to the cause of bringing equal healthcare opportunities to all Americans. Bringing high-quality and affordable healthcare solutions and health coverage to everyone, they are sure an influencer to follow on Twitter to know about important updates in the health field.

17. Larry Levitt

@larry levitt

Twitter Followers:  18.5k

The Vice President of Kaiser Family Foundation, Larry Levitt’s opinion and posts definitely make a huge difference in the health inclined Twitterati. Of course, one needs to stay abreast of crucial health policies and issues, and Kaiser Family Foundation continually works towards giving out this information, while Levitt is an important personality in healthcare to follow.

16. Charles Gaba

@charles_gaba

Twitter Followers:  22.1k

A healthcare analyst and the guy behind ACASignups.net. His website provides healthcare policy data and analysis, helping a large group of people to make informed policy decisions. Follow him on Twitter for important news about the latest happenings in the healthcare world.

15. Sherry Reynolds

@Cascadia

Twitter Followers: 22.8k

Sherry’s Twitter posts are full of useful information and latest news in healthcare. From Center 4 Health Innovation Director posts about everything healthcare – from insights on health insurance to interesting events and even heads up on who to follow next.

14. Howard Luks MD

@hjluks

Twitter Followers: 23.2k

Renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist, Howard J.Luks, the next one on the list of biggest influencers in healthcare, sure rules Twitter space for being one of the most active users. For sports enthusiasts concerned with health issues and injuries – his blogs are a must read. On Twitter, he is well known for being pro digital in healthcare.

13. Barby Ingle

@BarbyIngle

Twitter Followers:  27k

At number 13 on our list of biggest influencers in healthcare, we have Barby that is an inspiration to many who struggle with pain and dream of having a normal life. The author of From Wheels to Heels, qualified to being an influencer for her accounts of dealing with chronic pain and inspirational posts providing others the information of how to deal with chronic pain and better their lives in the process.

12. Brian Ahier

@ahier

Twitter Followers: 47.8k

Twitter personality Brian Ahier, garnered a massive 47.8k following by passionately posting his views and knowledge of healthcare and technology. His interesting blogs and updates definitely earn him a place among the biggest influencers in healthcare.

11. Topher Spiro

@TopherSpiro

Twitter Followers: 72.2k

Sure, being the Senior Fellow of Economic Policy at American Progress and the Vice President of Health Policy is qualification enough for being a healthcare influencer. However, Spiro is committed to posting religiously about the healthcare scenario which makes him a sought-after healthcare personality.

10. Berci Meskó

@Berci

Twitter Followers: 77.7k

The most digital forward and technologically inclined doctor out there committed to bringing the future to medicine. Bertalan Meskó, the Hungarian doctor, and author talks about innovations in healthcare and latest technologies being brought in medicine.

9. Kaiser Family Foundation

@KaiserFamFound

Twitter Followers: 87.5K

Along with Larry Levitt, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s very own page itself is an important influencer on Twitter. Follow the Foundation, committed to bringing national health issues news to the masses, on Twitter for updates you cannot afford to miss.

8. Dan Diamond

@ddiamond

Twitter Followers: 94.9k

If there’s a poster boy for health care politics, Dan Diamond sure makes the cut. The author of POLITICO pulse writes about the freshest news in healthcare policies and also hosts the podcast PULSE CHECK.

7. Sarah Kliff

@sarahkliff

Twitter Followers: 108k

A Senior Editor at Vox, Sarah Kliff, the next one on the list of biggest influencers in healthcare writes about healthcare and calls herself a health policy nerd. Look out for getting interesting healthcare policy updates on her Twitter and simple explanations of health news to keep you well brushed up.

6. Dr. Kevin Campbell

@DrKevinCampbell ‏

Twitter Followers: 124k

One of the most well-recognized doctors and world-renowned cardiologist, Dr. Kevin Campbell, is undoubtedly an influential personality when it comes to healthcare. The Medical Specialist for WNCN is a well-known face on TV and the internet, where he actively provides information and health updates.

5. Health Affairs

@Health_Affairs ‏

Twitter Followers: 131k

We are continuing our list of biggest influencers in healthcare with one of the best accounts out there to follow to get the latest news on health, healthcare, and policies at one place. The website journal founded by Project HOPE is known for its engaging content in healthcare.

4. Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt ‏

Twitter Followers: 156k

Former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, found a massive following in Twitter World, thanks to his knowledgeable tweets on health. Nominated by President Obama himself to run CMS, there’s no better authority on healthcare to follow than Slavitt.

3. Kevin Pho

@kevinmd ‏

Twitter Followers: 157k

The number three on the list of biggest influencers in healthcare is known as social media’s leading physician voice for his continual efforts to bring healthcare to the digital space. American Physician, author and keynote speaker, Kevin Pho writes and blogs about healthcare on his website which is frequented by health professionals.

2. Atul Gawande

@Atul_Gawande

Twitter Followers: 221k

Surgeon, the writer and public health researcher, Atul Gawande, is a well-known face on Twitter. He writes extensively on health innovations and public health and has been a regular on the New Yorker and Slate, along with being an author.

1. Mike Ryan

@MikeGordonRyan

Twitter Followers: 295k

The chairman of American Heart Association not only posts about how to keep a healthy heart but also gives useful insights on how one can create a successful business in health. He has a crazy following of 295k on Twitter which makes him the biggest influencer in healthcare.