Andrew Schorr is a two-time cancer survivor, cancer patient and health care advocate, medical journalist, radio host, and author. He is the co-founder of HealthTalk and Patient Power.
Early Life and Career
editAndrew Schorr was born in New York City in 1950[1]. He attended Avon Old Farms school, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971 with his Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Political Science[2]. After graduating from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1972, Schorr returned to North Carolina to join the CBS affiliate WBTV in Charlotte as a producer and features reporter. In 1980, Schorr relocated to San Francisco Bay Area to become a national coordinating producer for PM/Evening Magazine[3]. In 1982 he moved to Los Angeles as a national entertainment news producer for Telepictures. He subsequently produced behind-the-scenes in Hollywood television segments with Maria Shriver. While living in Los Angeles, Andrew Schorr and wife Esther began producing videos for the healthcare industry as Schorr Communications[4].
Medical Journalism and Patient Advocacy
editHealthTalk Interactive
editAndrew and Esther Schorr moved Schorr Communications to Seattle in 1988. The company transitioned from producing videos for health care professionals to producing audio programs for patients[5]. Using a conference call bridge, the company broadcast radio talk show style programming to patient communities over the phone. In 1996, Schorr received a process patent for his invention of telephone talk shows and automated replays and data capture[6]. HealthTalk primarily focused on patient populations with multiple sclerosis, asthma, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. HealthTalk would later be sold to Revolution Health[7] and, shortly thereafter to Waterfront Media[8].
Diagnosis and Treatment for Leukemia
editIn 1996, after an abnormal routine blood test, Schorr was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Upon advice of his physician, Michael Keating, M.B., B.S. at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Schorr postponed undergoing treatment until 2000[9]. At that time, Schorr enrolled in the phase II clinical trial for the three-drug combination of Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab (FCR)[10]. Following treatment, he enjoyed a deep, 17-year remission which enabled him to lead a full life and accelerated the Schorrs' work in patient education and medical journalism. In 2011, after the discovery of abnormal clots in the veins of his legs and while being followed in a Phase III clinical trial for an investigational blood thinner, Schorr was diagnosed with a second blood-related cancer, myelofibrosis, or scarring in the bone marrow. This was possibly an after-effect of chemotherapy he had received years earlier. Schorr was fortunate that an oral genetic inhibiting medicine was approved for myelofibrosis that same year[11], and that medicine continues to be effective for him. In 2017, Schorr’s CLL remission ended and he received 6 months of monoclonal antibody infusions which have led to a second deep remission. Schorr continues to receive monthly immune system boosting medicine (immunoglobulin) as well as taking pills to prevent viral and bacterial infections.
Patient Power
editIn 2005, after undergoing treatment for leukemia and stepping down as vice president at HealthTalk, Schorr began hosting Patient Power as a weekly 1-hour radio talk show on KVI/Seattle[12][13]. The program initially featured physicians from the University of Washington Medical Center[14], Virginia Mason Medical Center[15], and Swedish Medical Center[16] under a sponsorship arrangement[17]. Programs were archived on the website PatientPower.info.
In 2010, Patient Power evolved into an active website for cancer patients, caregivers (the site prefers the nomenclature "care partners") and health care providers. According to Google Analytics, as of September 2018, Patient Power had over 50,000 active users and averages 70,000 individual sessions per month.
Patient Power has a global audience, and produces programs in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The company has a physical presence in the United States and Spain.
Patient Power has a companion Facebook page, Patient Power - A Cancer Community [18].
Additional Contributions
editSchorr contributes to a number of health portals, like EverydayHealth.com, GetBetterHealth.com and EmpowHER.com, and print publications like the Senior Guidebook[19]. He often speaks to the patient’s perspective at events for advocacy groups[20] and the health care industry (such as the Personalized Medicine World Conference 2011)[21]. Schorr also serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Participatory Medicine[22].
The Web-Savvy Patient
editSchorr's book, The Web-Savvy Patient: An Insider's Guide to Navigating the Internet When Facing Medical Crisis was released in March of 2011 and focuses on teaching others how to find accurate health information on the Internet.[23]. He is currently working on an updated version.
Schorr was featured on ABC's "The View" on Monday, May 2nd, 2011.[24]
Personal Life
editAndrew Schorr currently lives in Carlsbad, California with his wife, Esther Schorr with whom he has three children: Ari, Ruth, and Eitan[25].
References
edit- ^ http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/mir/lifestyle/35035479.html?period=W&mpStartDate=01-09-2011
- ^ http://www.everydayhealth.com/bios/andrew-schorr.aspx
- ^ http://www.patientpower.info/about/andrew-schorr
- ^ http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/mir/lifestyle/35035479.html?period=W&mpStartDate=01-09-2011
- ^ http://www.patientpower.info/about/andrew-schorr
- ^ http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&S1=5490207.PN.&OS=pn/5490207&RS=PN/5490207
- ^ http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071205005345&newsLang=en
- ^ http://corporate.everydayhealth.com/pr-Oct032008.aspx
- ^ http://www.mdanderson.org/transcripts/vignette-leukemia-schorr.html
- ^ http://www.mdanderson.org/publications/patient-power/about-the-host/index.html
- ^ Lal, Asheesh (January 30, 2017). "Primary Myelofibrosis Treatment & Management". Medscape.
- ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/tv/239704_radiobeat08.html
- ^ http://www.kvi.com/schedule/4964001.html
- ^ http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Global/News/Pages/Patient-Power.aspx
- ^ https://www.virginiamason.org/home/body.cfm?id=1275
- ^ http://www.swedish.org/About/Swedish-News/Two-Swedish-Affiliated-Physicians-Interviewed-for-
- ^ http://www.patientpower.info/about/editorial-independence
- ^ http://facebook.com/PatientPower.info
- ^ http://www.seniorguidebook.com/articles.cfm?cid=1
- ^ http://www.patientpower.info/speaking-engagements
- ^ http://www.pmwc2011.com/speakers.php
- ^ http://www.jopm.org/editorial-team/#12
- ^ http://mercerisland.patch.com/articles/island-resident-to-help-patients-navigate-the-web-with-new-book
- ^ http://theview.abc.go.com/
- ^ http://www.empowher.com/cancer/content/how-andrew-schorr-became-america-s-most-empowering-patient?page=0,1