Alliance Health Networks forms healthcare advisory board

SALT LAKE CITY Alliance Health Networks, which is building a universe of social health networks focused on such specific health conditions as diabetes, has formed a healthcare advisory board. Among the founding members: pharmacy industry veteran Gordon Barker.

According to Alliance Health's CEO, Stead Burwell, the advisory board is designed to provide Alliance Health executive management and its board of directors with industry insights, feedback and strategic counsel in support of its efforts to build online social health networks that bring together patients, caregivers and industry participants.

Alliance Health's first social health network DiabeticConnect.com, has attracted the largest online population of people living with or treating diabetes, according to the company.

Barker has a nearly 40-year career in the pharmacy industry that includes 30 years with Thrifty PayLess Drug Stores, now Rite Aid. He started there as a pharmacist and eventually became president and CEO. He then served as CEO of Snyder Drug from 2005 through early 2009. In addition, Barker served as chairman of the board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Found and currently serves on its board of chancellors.

Additional members of the advisory board include McKesson veteran, Richard Hawkins; and Robert Johnson, former chairman and CEO of PCS Health Systems, which is now part of CVS Caremark.