Great Food, Great Friends

So here we go again – events season is here and we kicked ours off at the e-Patient Conference in Philly!  The first day agenda was packed with great insights from e-Patient Dave, Susannah Fox, and Joe Shields.   I really enjoyed the LIVESTRONG presentation and the mobile track later in the day.  One of my favorite quotes was from Kevin Kruse, “You know you made it when people tattoo your brand on their body.”

Following this first hectic day, a group of 30 of us headed over to Osteria, owned by Executive Chef Jeff Michaud and opened with world-renowned  Mark Vetri.  The food is amazing and as some guests said, “As close to Italy as Philly could ever come.”  The restaurant is located just over a mile from the Hyatt at the Bellevue, where most of us were staying for the conference …who wants to go to dinner 30 minutes away?  Osteria tucked us away in the rustic (enclosed) patio and spread us out among a long table.  Too bad the weather wasn’t a little nicer because all the windows open up!  The food is very sophisticated in taste but everything is served family-style.  This  relaxed atmosphere allowed us to continue our social conversations while sharing bread and passing pasta.  It’s true Italian style…from what I’ve heard.

Drinks were readily available from the minute everyone started to arrive.  We all hung around for a bit mingling and making introductions to those we hadn’t met before.  I still consider myself fairly new to the industry so it was really exciting to meet so many of the people I read about or follow in the social world.   Chris said a few words of welcome and to announce our gift for the evening – CNN reporter, Elizabeth Cohen’s latest book – “The Empowered Patient.” The empowered patient is sort of our mantra.  We believe in this concept strongly and preach the importance of people becoming more involved and an advocate in their own health.

Over what seemed like never-ending courses of food and continuous flowing wine, I shared in great conversations with Jack Barrette from WEGO Health, Brady Walcott from IMC2, Maureen Hall, and many others. We discussed the conference topics in detail and I learned a great deal from my new friends.  It was great to see Ted Eytan, Christine Kraft, and Kevin Kruse, who were able to stop by for a quick hello.  The whole group toasted to Razorfish’s Katy Thorbahn’s birthday and the staff even brought her a special treat with a birthday candle.

All in all, it was a very fun, relaxing and even a bit inspiring evening.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this night a success and to all those who joined us, it was great to meet you!