Jonathan Richman to present at FDA public hearing on promoting medical devices using the Internet

Bridge Worldwide announced today that Jonathan Richman, Director of Strategic Planning, will present at the public hearing on "Promotion of FDA-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools," to be held on November 12 and 13, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Richman is scheduled to speak on Friday, November 13, at 11:40 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. for 10 minutes per time slot. To listen to a free, live webcast of the hearing, go to: www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/fda/111209/FDAlive.htm.

Reflecting on the upcoming hearing, Richman said, "In almost every discussion I have with our healthcare clients, they all stress both the importance of and challenges associated with engaging in social media. Beyond any other marketing issue, this is by far the one getting the most attention. For more than a year, a number of people have publicly called on the FDA to issue specific guidance around the proper use of social media. I'm optimistic that this hearing is the start of a process that will clarify many of the nagging questions healthcare companies have regarding the proper use of social media. I hope this will open up a new era in communication between patients, doctors, and healthcare companies, all with the ultimate goal of improving patient care."

A number of individuals will have an opportunity to comment on the way FDA-regulated medical products, such as prescription drugs and medical devices, are being promoted via the Internet, with a focus on social media. In his presentation, Richman will address the impact on patient health as it relates to healthcare companies' ability to provide corrective information and engage in discussions on third-party websites, such as WebMD.com. In addition, Richman will offer solutions on how to improve the process of adverse event reporting and recommend ways the FDA can provide clarity around this issue.

The FDA opened the floor to consumers, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, patient groups, Internet vendors, and advertising agencies to present their opinions on these issues at the hearing. As the Director of Strategic Planning, Richman provides direction and leadership for Bridge Worldwide clients with a concentration in healthcare.

Prior to joining Bridge Worldwide, Richman worked at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for more than 11 years, where he held positions in sales, training, sales leadership, and marketing in diverse disease areas including cardiovascular, oncology, asthma, and neuroscience. In addition, he has written extensively on the impact of digital technologies on healthcare marketing, including white papers on "Emerging Media in Healthcare," "The Future of Healthcare Relationship Marketing," and "Pharma and Healthcare Social Media Principles." Richman is also the author of the popular pharma industry blog "Dose of Digital," which focuses on providing guidance on how pharma and healthcare companies can leverage some of the digital technologies available today. To read his blog, please go to: www.doseofdigital.com.