The use of social media platforms such as Twitter has transformed the way news, information and opinions are disseminated. Healthcare leaders have taken to Twitter as a direct, effective mechanism for communicating with the public, developing their organization's image and growing their reach over consumers.
The following list contains physician leaders who post valuable, timely information on their Twitter accounts. Selections are based off of Becker's 2014 list of 100 physician leaders of hospitals and health systems.
Akram Boutros, MD | @Akram_Boutros
Dr. Boutros is the president and CEO of The MetroHealth System, based in Cleveland. Dr. Boutros became president and CEO of The MetroHealth System in June 2013. He has more than 20 years of leadership experience in large community hospitals, specialty hospitals and academic medical centers. He often tweets about MetroHealth System news, recent healthcare studies and fun facts.
Steven G. Gabbe, MD | @stevegabbe
Dr. Gabbe has served as CEO and senior vice president for health sciences of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus since July 2008. In February, Dr. Gabbe announced plans to step down as CEO by the end of the year, but he will continue in his role as senior vice president for health sciences. A notable fan of the OSU Buckeyes, Dr. Gabbe tweets about OSU charity fundraisers and medical services.
Jeffrey Gold, MD | @jeffreypgold
Dr. Gold became chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in February 2014. A board-certified thoracic surgeon, has served on more than 50 professional committees and upwards of 100 national organizations, volunteer boards, and government and public health councils. He was one of 25 leaders to receive a Becker's Healthcare Leadership Award in 2014. He frequently tweets about recent healthcare news and University of Nebraska research and medicine.
Stephen K. Klasko, MD | @sklasko
Dr. Klasko was named president and CEO of Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System in June 2013. He often tweets about upcoming healthcare speakers and events, interesting news and editorial articles and statistics.
Vivian S. Lee, MD | @vivianleemd
Since July 2011, Dr. Lee has served as senior vice president for health sciences at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, dean of the University's School of Medicine and CEO of University of Utah Health Care. Dr. Lee's tweets provider her followers with links to healthcare studies and statistics, as well as comments on common issues among healthcare professionals.
John H. Noseworthy, MD | @JNoseworthyMD
Before he was named president and CEO of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in 2009, Dr. Noseworthy, a neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis, served as chair of Mayo Clinic's department of neurology, medical director of the department of development and vice chair of the Mayo Clinic Rochester executive board. Dr. Noseworthy was a recipient of a Becker's Healthcare Leadership Award in 2014. He often tweets about Mayo Clinic news and upcoming speakers and events.
David C. Pate, MD, JD | @drpatestlukes
Dr. Pate joined Boise, Idaho-based St. Luke's Health System as president and CEO in 2009 from the unaffiliated Houston-based St. Luke's Episcopal Health System, where he served as senior vice president and CMO, as well as CEO of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. He earned his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Dr. Pate is board certified in internal medicine. He tweets about St. Luke's health services, interesting statistics and personal health tips.
Ramanathan Raju, MD, MBA | @RamRajuMD
Dr. Raju was appointed president of New York City Health and Hospitals Corp. in January. He is vice chair of the Greater New York Hospital Association, and in 2015 he will begin a three-year term on the American Hospital Association's board of trustees. Dr. Raju frequently tweets about issues in medical education, HHC news and links to healthcare articles.
Mike Schatzlein, MD, MBA | @drmikestthomas
Since June 2010, Dr. Schatzlein has led Nashville, Tenn.-based Saint Thomas Health Services as president and CEO. He previously served as CEO of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network. Dr. Schatzlein practiced cardiothoracic and vascular surgery from 1980 to 1994 in Fort Wayne and was instrumental in developing Lutheran Hospital's heart transplant program. In 1985, he performed northern Indiana's first heart transplant. Dr. Schatzlein often tweets links to articles and guides for successfully managing various hospital issues.
David J. Shulkin, MD |@DrShulkin
Dr. Shulkin was named president of Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center and vice president of Atlantic Health System, the hospital's parent organization in 2010. Dr. Shulkin, a board-certified internist, is also president of the Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, the second largest ACO in the country, and chairman of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals. Dr. Shulkin tweets facts about various medical conditions and treatments and links to articles with healthcare statistics and studies. He also often live tweets during events and lectures.