Top influencers to follow in healthtech 2025
Discover how these digital health leaders are pushing care forward with innovation, advocacy, and online impact.
The influencer market size was valued at USD 20 billion in 2024 and projected to grow from USD 23 billion in 2025 to USD 71 billion by 2032 (according to Fortune Business Insights). This economy isn't just for beauty brands and technology anymore. There are now influencers and change makers in every niche; healthcare innovation is not the exception. As trust shifts from institutions to individuals, more and more healthcare professionals are becoming thought leaders within their area of expertise, sharing their take on what is happening, inspiring, educating and sometimes moving the needle regarding real-world decisions.
From physicians breaking down complex science on social media to entrepreneurs driving innovation in digital health, these individuals are actively shaping the conversation.
This list isn't meant to be definitive but rather a curated selection of voices that consistently share value through digital channels. Smart, relevant, content-solid picks to level up your digital health feed and stay sharp and inspired
Let's meet them!
1. João Bocas
Bio: João Bocas is a digital health expert, keynote speaker, and advocate for wearable technology and health innovation. He is the founder of Digital Salutem, a platform focused on digital health innovation. Bocas is known for his work in promoting technology integration into healthcare to improve patient outcomes.
Posts about: Impact of wearables on health, personal brand in healthtech, entrepreneurship.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: João Bocas on LinkedIn
2. Gil Bashe
Bio: Gil Bashe is the Managing Partner and Chair of Global Health at FINN Partners. He is a health communications advocate and also the editor-in-chief of Medika Life. He hosts the "Healthunabashed" radio show as well and has been recognized as a Top 50 Health Influencer and a Top 10 Innovation Catalyst.
Posts about: healthtech and its relationship with environmental causes & communication. Hosts “Health UnaBASHEd”, a radio show focused on discussing healthtech from a global perspective.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Gil Bashe on LinkedIn
3. Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, MD, PhD
Bio: Dr. Benjamin Schwartz is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 13 years of experience in treating hip and knee arthritis. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Schwartz maintains a strong presence in healthcare technology and innovation as an advisor and investor to early-stage digital health companies. A LinkedIn Top Voice and active mentor in digital health, Dr. Schwartz is a prominent advocate for integrating technology into healthcare to enhance patient outcomes.
Posts about: He is the editor in chief of “The Surgeon's Record presented by Commons Clinic," a weekly newsletter highlighting issues within healthcare with a focus on value-based specialty care.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Dr. Benjamin Schwartz on LinkedIn
4. Christopher Kunney
Bio: Christopher Kunney is a health IT strategist and host of the "Straight Outta Health IT" podcast, where he engages with healthcare leaders to discuss trends and challenges in health technology. He serves as an adviser for organizations like Chilmark Research and ScaleHealth, focusing on digital transformation and health equity. Kunney is also the advocacy chair for HIMSS Georgia, promoting diversity and inclusion in healthcare careers.
Posts about: Healthcare challenges from a digital perspective, discussions and opinions.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Christopher Kunney on LinkedIn
5. Dr Jennie Byrne, MD, PhD
Bio: Dr. Jennie Byrne, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author with a unique blend of clinical, entrepreneurial, and strategic expertise. As co-founder of Belong Health and advisor to Wovenly, PsychNow, and Overstory Health, she helps build tech-enabled mental health solutions. A nationally recognized thought leader, Dr. Byrne is shaping the conversation around clinician well-being, brain science, and the future of care delivery.
Posts about: Leadership & entrepreneurship, mental healthcare IT, opinions and reflections.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Dr. Jennie Byrne in LinkedIn
6. Andrew Toy
Bio: Andrew is CEO of Clover Health, a tech-first Medicare company using AI-powered tools like Counterpart Assistant to help doctors detect chronic disease early. A former Google Cloud leader and startup founder, he’s a recognized influencer in healthtech innovation and policy.
Posts about: Healthtech innovations (specially AI), entrepreneurship, opinions and reflections.
LinkedIn: Andrew Toy on LinkedIn
7. Dr. Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA
Bio: Dr. Geeta Nayyar is a rheumatologist and healthcare executive with a background in both medicine and business. She has served as the chief medical officer for Salesforce and AT&T and has appeared on major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, and CBS. Dr. Nayyar is the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller "Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare's Misinformation Illness."
Posts about: Misinformation, technology and its impact on healthcare.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Dr. Geeta Nayyar on LinkedIn
8. Halle Tecco, MPH, MBA
Bio: Halle Tecco is a healthcare reimaginer, investing in digital health since 2011 as an angel, LP, and Founder of Rock Health. She teaches at Harvard Medical School and Columbia Business School, where she created the first MBA course on digital health investing. Halle serves on the boards of Collective Health, Cofertility, and the International African American Museum.
She hosts The Heart of Healthcare, the #1 health tech podcast on Apple and Spotify.
A first-gen college grad, she holds degrees from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Case Western, and has been featured in NYT, WSJ, and CNBC.Posts about: Digital Health, entrepreneurship, funding and investing.
Links of interests:
Linkedin: Halle Tecco in LinkedIn
9. Nikhil Krishnan
Bio: Nikhil Krishnan is the founder of Out-Of-Pocket, a tech-forward media and education company reshaping how people understand the U.S. healthcare system. With a background in healthcare research and strategy, he translates complex industry dynamics into sharp, accessible insights, often with a dose of humor. His work blends community-building, course creation, and content that bridges the gap between policy wonks, operators, and curious outsiders. Through Out-Of-Pocket, Nikhil is building a new model for healthcare education: more meme, less med school.
Posts about: Where healthcare is going, thoughts, opinions & reflections.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Nikhil Krishnan in LinkedIn
Names to keep in sight:
Beyond likes and followers, at its core being an influencer is about being a change maker. With that in mind, there are some professionals paving the way in their specific niche that deserve a shout-out:
Dr. Karen Knudsen
Bio: Dr. Karen Knudsen is CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, a powerhouse driving next-gen cancer treatments through AI, biotech, and bold science. A biotech board leader and former ACS CEO, she’s a key voice shaping health innovation, strategy, and policy across sectors.
Posts about: Oncology, healthtech, leadership and advocacy.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Karen Knudsen in LinkIn
Hillary Lin, MD
Bio: Dr. Hillary Lin is a Stanford-trained physician entrepreneur and CEO of Elevate X Health, driving the future of longevity medicine through AI-powered precision care. She is also a recognized healthtech leader and Aspen Health Fellow and bridges clinical expertise with digital innovation. She also maintains a boutique concierge practice.
Posts about: Longevity, health and technology.
Links of interest:
LinkedIn: Hillary Lin in LinkedIn
Alessandra Henderson
Bio: Alessandra Henderson is a healthcare entrepreneur, investor, and thought leader transforming women’s health. As co-founder and former CEO of Elektra Health, she built a groundbreaking virtual care platform for menopause, securing $7M+ in funding and launching the first U.S. payer partnership for menopause care. Today, she advises digital health companies.
Posts about: Women’s health, technology and entrepreneurship.
LinkedIn: Alessandra Henderson in Linkedin
Final thoughts
These people represent a cross-section of the innovation happening in digital health today. Of course, the industry is in constant evolution, and we know there are many more voices contributing to meaningful change within the digital space. If you know other innovators, thought leaders, or influencers making waves in healthtech that you think should be included in this listicle, drop their names in the comments!
Think someone should be featured in this list? Submit it here👇
