Follow Friday: Eclectic and Effective Group of Patient Experts

This week, our featured patient experts are an eclectic group. A common thread is that each is an amazing health advocate who shares his or her experience and expertise to raise awareness, educate, and help others.  Since May is Stroke Awareness Month, it’s apropos to start with stroke survivor and awareness advocate Tedy Bruschi.
 

1. @TacklingStroke Just after winning his third Super Bowl, professional football player, Tedy Bruschi, suffered a stroke in 2005 at the ripe ‘old’ age of 31. Today, he has recovered fully and dedicates substantial time to raising stroke awareness with AGA Medical. He’s created “Tedy’s Team,” runners who raise money for the American Stroke Association and promote awareness of the warning signs of America’s third leading cause of death. AGA and Tedy are sponsoring a ReTweet Contest on Twitter that begins tomorrow. Check out Tackling Stroke’s Spread Stroke Awareness YouTube Channel and join in Tedy’s ReTweet Contest to raise stroke awareness. 
   
   
2. @Kairol For candid conversation about young adult cancer, Everything Changes blog is a must. Kairol Rosenthal was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 27. Since then she spent 5 years of research interviewing patients and healthcare professionals in the young adult cancer community. Her highly rated Everything Changes: The Insider’s Guide to Cancer in Your 20s and 30s book is the product of her research and experience. She frequently writes about the emotional impact of cancer, but also shares practical tips. Kairol is busy as a national spokesperson for cancer and an avid writer on the subject. If you are new to her blog, I'd suggest starting with her Top Ten Posts. You’ll get a flavor of her five-star approach to young adult cancer topics!
   
   
3. @Atlantamom If you are a new mom struggling with postpartum depression (PPD) or anxiety, you most likely will find Amber Koter-Puline’s blog very helpful. This PPD and anxiety survivor shares personal experience in dealing with perinatal mood disorders and shares quality resources related to pregnancy and the postpartum experience. Amber goes beyond sharing on her Beyond Postpartum blog to help new moms struggling with these disorders by giving of her time as a peer support provider and support group facilitator. If interested in postpartum support, contact Amber at Atlanta Postpartum Support Group or Postpartum Support International.
   
   
4. @PrisWarner Priscilla Warner has wrestled with panic attacks since she was a teenager and struggled daily after the Twin Towers fell. She admits to being in a “continual low-grade state of panic following 9/11.” In her Priscilla Warner’s Blog, Meditating My Way From Panic to Peace she poignantly shares her fears and some details from her EMDR sessions to help others who struggle with panic. Interestingly after 9/11, Priscilla, a Reform Jew, started on a provocative journey with a Christian woman and a Muslim women of Palestinian descent to explore their stereotypes, misconceptions, and prejudices about other faiths. This soul searching and quest to understand led to a NYT bestseller The Faith Club. For a brief overview, listen to the Faith Club women speak with Dr. Oz on Oprah Radio.
   
   
5. @motorcycle_guy Interested in healthcare standards initiatives? Meet Keith Boone, a patient with way more than just patient perspective when it comes to healthcare standards. Mr. Boone, a self-professed standards geek for a major healthcare company, writes commentaries on current and emerging healthcare standards. Keith is active in Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), HL7, ANSI/HITSP, and ISO standards efforts. He chairs or volunteers on various committees within the IHE, HL7, and ANSI/HITSP organizations. His Healthcare Standards blog is informative, practical, and of interest to those trying to keep up with the quickly changing healthcare standards landscape.

Throughout this upcoming week, I'll be featuring diabetes patient experts. Don't miss learning about who is blogging, tweeting, and committing precious time to share their diabetes experiences with others. 

If you know of someone who is worthy of our patient expert award, please tweet your recommendation to @organizedwisdom in this format: "I recommend @[username] as a patient expert for @OrganizedWisdom or use our contact form. 

Other featured patient expert blog entries: Follow Friday: Featuring 5 Patient Experts

by Julie Bohlen, MBA, ELS