Alliance Health Networks, which develops social health networks to unite individuals in online communities centered around diseases and conditions, has announced that Leavitt Partners – founded by former Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael O. Leavitt – will help it expand its presence in the U.S. healthcare industry and beyond.

The partnership combines Leavitt Partners’ deep expertise in consumer-directed healthcare and personalized medicine with Alliance Health’s leadership in building scalable, condition-specific social networks that engage consumers in cost effective ways.

"Alliance Health is the leader in the development of next generation consumer health solutions through their proprietary social networks that are designed to engage and support their community members," said Leavitt, who served in the Cabinet of President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2009, and as governor of Utah from 1993 to 2003. “We share in the belief that Alliance Health’s proven capabilities not only deliver efficiencies when and where health consumers and industry participants connect, but ultimately yield better health outcomes.”

Alliance Health’s social networks enable consumers to explore a health topic online on their own terms. Diabetic Connect, the first of the company’s growing portfolio of social health networks, launched in 2008 with diabetes blogger, Amy Tenderich, as its first community manager. With nearly 300,000 registered members and over one million monthly unique visitors, it's today’s largest and fastest growing social networking site for people living with diabetes.

Community members are able to personalize their experience and control the information they choose to access and share using a suite of social networking tools: participating in member discussions, updating personal status, or browsing thousands of healthy recipes and product recommendations.

Leavitt Partners was established to provide its clients and strategic partners with services focused around healthcare industry knowledge, uncommon access to industry leaders, and industry expertise. The firm is comprised of seasoned experts with senior experience in dealing with critical industry components including the Department of Health and Human Services, Capitol Hill, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, the Food and Drug Administration, health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and the pharmaceutical and device industries.

Alliance Health and Leavitt Partners will work jointly to identify strategic opportunities for Alliance Health to expand its footprint, reach new customers and partners, and establish global distribution agreements.

“Healthcare reform is driving more and more industry participants to focus on providing efficiency and value to the consumer,” said Alliance Health’s CEO, Stead Burwell. “Alliance Health has proven strategic competencies in engaging consumers and serving them personalized information and services. We are both honored and thrilled to work with Governor Leavitt and his team to leverage the firm’s vast network and influence as we continue to grow our business.”