Top 10 primary care doctors to follow on Twitter

In 140 characters, it can be hard to compose a meaningful message on Twitter. But there are several physicians who are excelling at this form of social media.  So whether you want to improve your own account or simply just follow some of your peers, here are 10 Twitter accounts you should check out.

10. Jen Brull, MD
Family physician
Plainville, Kansas
@mrsbrull

Whether you are looking for the latest from national conferences or just a dose of daily affirmation, Jennifer Brull, MD, has it on her Twitter feed. The Kansas-based doctor also knows a lot about EHRs, having served as an HIT Fellow for the Office of the National Coordinator in Washington, D.C.

9. Katherine Chretien, MD
Internist
Washington, D.C.
@MotherinMed

Founder and blogger for the site “Mothers in Medicine," Katherine Chretien, MD, is an internal medicine physician who works at the VA and also serves as assistant dean for student affairs at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. You can find lots of social media advice and inspiring student stories on her feed.

8. Terry Kind, MD
Pediatrician
Washington, D.C.
@Kind4Kids

A frequent presence in medical education (#meded) discussions on Twitter curated by @MedEdChat, Terry Kind, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician in the Children's Health Center at Martin Luther King, a community-based health center in Southeast Washington, D.C. Her feed features social media advice/advocacy, as well as useful news and information for pediatricians and family physicians.

7. Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH
Family physician
Venice, California
@familydocwonk

The chief medical officer for California-based Venice Family clinic and past-president of the state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, is a staunch believer in the #FMRevolution. The group’s mission is to spread the word about family medicine as a key player in healthcare.

6. Kevin Pho, MD
Internist
Nashua, New Hampshire @kevinmd

You’ve likely read his popular blog site, but Kevin Pho, MD, is also a social media expert for physicians. His feed features news, articles and information to help docs of all specialties let their voices be heard.

5. Mark Ryan, MD
Family physician
Richmond, Virginia
@RichmondDoc

Looking for a good roundup of news and information from a doctor’s viewpoint? Look no further than the feed of family doc Mark Ryan, MD. You’ll also learn about the medical needs of the underserved in the U.S. and abroad as Ryan volunteers his time helping others get the medical care they need.

4. Mike Sevilla, MD
Family physician
Salem, Ohio
@drmikesevilla

Perhaps you used to follow him as @DoctorAnonymous, but family physician Mike Sevilla, MD, has now gone public from his former pseudonym. His feed features social media advice, news to make you think and some fun posts to make you laugh.

3. Gia Sison, MD
Family physician
Philippines
@giasison

If you’re looking for a little inspiration or a daily pick-me-up, check out the account of Gia Sison, MD. The blogger and breast cancer survivor offers professional and personal advice and affirmations for her peers several times a day.

2. Glen Stream, MD

Family physician
Indian Wells, California
@grstream

The former president of the American Academy of Family Medicine, Glen Stream, MD, is another key voice in the #MakeHealthPrimary movement (he also writes monthly blogs for Medical Economics. You can read them here). Stream currently serves as president and board chair of Family Medicine for America’s Health, a collaboration of eight medical associations looking to transform the specialty. His feed features news and information toward that goal.

1. Wendy Sue Swanson, MD
Pediatrician
Seattle, Washington
@SeattleMamaDoc

One of the most popular physicians in social media, Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, blogs and tweets about life as a mom, pediatrician/chief of digital innovation at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and various issues facing her patients and peers. From articles to podcasts to videos, Swanson truly embraces all media to get out useful healthcare information.