About Med Help International

Bringing people together with the best

medical organizations and experts in the world… since 1994

1. HISTORY of MED HELP INTERNATIONAL

4. Services offered by Med Help International

· Patient Support Group Listings

· Daily Medical News from Intelihealth

5. Medical Partners

· The Cleveland Clinic Foundation - Third Best Hospital in America Overall

The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center – The #1 Heart Center in America

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Departments of Neurology & Neurosurgery

The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center – Breast Cancer

The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center – Ovarian Cancer

· National Jewish Medical & Research Center – The #1 Hospital in America for Treatment of Respiratory Disorders

· Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

· The Rockoff Dermatology Center

· Dean Tomasello, M.D., A.B.F.P.

10. How to Become a Sponsor (PowerPoint Presentation)

11. How to Become a Medical Partner (PowerPoint Presentation)

HISTORY OF MED HELP INTERNATIONAL

• In late 1994, Med Help International pioneered the field of consumer health information on the Internet, offering the very first searchable, consumer health library on the World Wide Web.

• Med Help has remained one of the most trusted and honored sources for consumer health information, since the inception of the World Wide Web.

• Since our Ask the Expert Forums began in 1997, medical professionals working with Med Help International have answered more than 34,000 personal medical questions for people from all over the world.

• A search of most major search engines finds Med Help International’s website consistently at the top, across a broad spectrum of medical topics.

• Med Help International is proud to be one of only 70 organizations (worldwide) licensed to distribute the National Cancer Institute’s CancerNet database.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cynthia Thompson, President and Co-founder

Philip Garfinkel, Vice President and Co-founder

Ronald Fogel, M.D., Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board and Director

William R. Gombeski, Director

Althea E. Thomas, Director

MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD

Ronald P. Fogel, M.D
Chairman, Medical Advisory Board
MDCM, 1974 – McGill University
Board Certified: Internal Medicine, 1978
Board Certified: Gastroenterology, 1979
Royal College of Physicians of Canada: Certified in Gastroenterology & Internal Medicine, 1979
Certified Specialist Province of Quebec: Gastroenterology, 1979
Michigan (Gastroenterology& Liver Diseases)

Clifford Brass, M.D., Ph.D.
A.B., 1977 - Harvard College
M.D., 1983 - Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
Ph.D., 1983 - Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
(Biomedical Sciences/Pharmacology)
New Jersey (Gastroenterology/ Hepatology/Liver Transplantation)

Richard C. Conti, M.D.
M.D., 1960-Johns Hopkins School of Med.
Board Certified: Internal Medicine
Board Certified: Cardiovascular Disease
Florida (Ischemic Heart Disease, Unstable Angina)

E. Loren Buhle, Ph.D.
Creator of U of PA’s OncoLink
Pennsylvania (Oncology Informatics)

Valentin Fuster, M.D., Ph.D.
M.D., 1967 - University of Barcelona (Spain)
Board Certified: Internal Medicine, 1976
Board Certified: Cardiovascular Dis., 1977
President, American Heart Assoc.
New York (Cardiovascular and Coronary Diseases)

Marie Lindner, M.D.
M.D., 1978 - Univ. of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School
Board Certified: Clinical Nutrition, 1988
Board Certified: Internal Medicine, 1995
Pennsylvania (Gene & cell therapy/ nutrition)

Stephen Schueler, M.D.,
Chairman, Medical Advisory Board
M.D., 1983 - St. Louis University
Board Certified: Emergency Medicine, 1987
Florida (Emergency Medicine)

Burton E. Sobel, M.D.
M.D., 1962 - Harvard Medical School
Board Certified: Internal Medicine, 1969
Board Certified: Cardiovascular Disease, 1970
Vermont (Cardiology, Fibrinolysis, Thrombolysis)

SERVICES OFFERED BY MED HELP INTERNATIONAL

Question & Answer Forums unlike any other in the world, where physicians from world renowned organizations, answer patient’s personal medical questions, in lay terminology. Supported by physicians affiliated with The Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates; Henry Ford Health System, Tufts University School of Medicine and UCLA.

An Online Library of the highest quality medical information, written for the consumer. Our information has been carefully selected from the best medical organizations and experts in the world.

An online database of more than 1,300 Patient Support Groups, including descriptions of their services and how to contact them.

Patient-to-Patient Network where patients can exchange medical information and support via e-mail

Medical News - Daily medical news-feed. We receive daily news from Intelihealth (Featuring Harvard Medical School’s Consumer Health Information.)

MEDICAL PARTNERS

MED HELP'S MEDICAL PARTNERS ~ THE BEST HOSPITALS IN AMERICA

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

*Ranked Third Best Hospital in America for Overall Quality of Care

• NEUROLOGY/NEUROSURGERY FORUM: In March of 1997, Med Help International along with The Cleveland Clinic Neurology & Neurosurgery Departments opened a Neurology/Neurosurgery Forum, which was the world’s first medical Q&A forum for patients on the Internet. Anyone with Internet access can post a Neurology-related question and receive answers from doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, free of charge. In 2001, the Neurology/ Neurosurgery Forum had 6,051,292 page-views. As a result, The Cleveland Clinic Neurology Department has welcomed 531 new patients.

• HEART FORUM: Because of the success of the Neurology Forum, the Cleveland Clinic requested that Med Help Int’l. open a Heart Forum. This forum was launched in August of 1997. * The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center is ranked the #1 Heart Center in America. In 2001, the Heart Forum had more than 6,229,331 page-views . As a result, the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center has welcomed 461 new patients.

• BREAST CANCER FORUM: In March of 2001, we partnered with the Taussig Cancer Center to create a Breast Cancer Forum for patients & their families. In it’s first year, the forum experienced more than 1300% growth and The Taussig Cancer Center welcomed 17 new patients.

• OVARIAN CANCER FORUM: Because of the success of the Breast Cancer Forum, Med Help & the Taussig Cancer Center will be opening a new OVARIAN CANCER FORUM in the summer of 2002.

National Jewish Medical & Research Center

*Ranked the #1 hospital in America for treatment of respiratory disorders

RESPIRATORY DISORDERS FORUM: After the attacks on the World Trade Center in September of 2001, Med Help International contacted National Jewish Medical & Research Center in Denver, Colorado to ask for their help. Together, we created an online Respiratory Disorders Forum.

The first goal of this forum was to offer the NYC rescue workers a safe & reliable place to ask their questions about how to protect themselves against the toxic particles in the air at “ground zero”. We have worked closely with both the NYC Fire Department and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, to insure that the rescue workers have the best information and equipment available to protect their respiratory health.

The Respiratory Disorders Forum is now open to the general public, where medical professionals from National Jewish Medical & Research Center answer new questions, daily.

US News & World Report ~ annual “Best Hospitals in America” edition

Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

CHILD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FORUM: The doctors of Harvard Vanguard are among the finest you'll find anywhere. In fact, Harvard Vanguard is a major teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School. Their practice, first established over 30 years ago, has long been recognized for providing excellent care. Harvard Vanguard established many of the standards of care that help to guide medicine across the country. They offer patients excellent care at multi-specialty medical offices that provide a wide range of treatment at one convenient location. Harvard Vanguard patients can chose to see any doctor at any of their office locations.

Harvard Vanguard doctors are affiliated with the best hospitals in the Northeast:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY

Beverly Hospital, Beverly, MA

Boston Floating Hospital for Infants and Children

Boston Regional Medical Center, Stoneham, MA

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Brigham And Women's/Faulkner Hospitals

Brockton Hospital, Brockton, MA

Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA

Carney Hospital, Dorchester, MA

Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA

Deaconess Waltham Hospital, Waltham, MA

Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA

Faulkner Hospital School of Nursing, Jamaica Plain, MA

Faulkner Hospital, Jamaica Plain, MA

Franciscan Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Medford, MA

Leominster and Burbank Hospital, Fitchburg, MA

Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, MA

Malden Hospital, Malden, MA

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Milton Hospital, Milton, MA

Mt. Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA

New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA

New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA

New England Surgicare, Brookline, MA

Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA

Quincy Hospital, Quincy, MA

Saints Memorial Medical Center, Lowell, MA

South Shore Hospital, So. Weymouth, MA

South Shore Hospital, Weymouth, MA

St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, MA

St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, MA

The Arbour, Jamaica Plain, MA

Westwood Lodge Hospital, Westwood, MA

Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA

Youville Hospital, Cambridge, MA

The Rockoff Dermatology Center

DERMATOLOGY FORUM: Dr. Alan Rockoff graduated with his medical degree in 1972 from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He then completed a pediatric internship and residency at Bronx Municipal Hospital. Continuing his education, Dr. Rockoff completed a combined dermatology residency program at Boston University and Tufts University.

Dr. Rockoff is on the Clinical faculty of the Tufts University School of Medicine. He has taught Senior Medical Students and other trainees for 20 years. Dr. Rockoff is board certified by the following organizations:

American Board of Pediatrics

American Board of Dermatology

Roger Gould, M.D.

MENTAL HEALTH FORUM: Dr. Roger Gould started his academic psychiatric career as the head of the U.C.L.A. outpatient and community psychiatry department. That’s where his lifelong focus on normal adult development began. He has written papers and textbook chapters as well as a book for the general public (Transformations, Growth and Change in Adult Life) based on research that he and his colleagues did on the predictable sequence of changing patterns and preoccupations during the adult years.

Dr. Gould’s research on over 20,000 people, including seven separate studies, has proved that his online Mastering Stress Program is safe and effective. The most recent study conducted independently by Kaiser Permanente and U.C.L.A. finds that each session has the same effect as a session with an experienced therapist.

"Dr. Gould's program is the only online therapy program of its kind that is based on proven research results."

Dean Tomasello, M.D., ABFP

FAMILY PRACTICE FORUM: Dr. Tomasello is a board certified family physician residing in southeast Wisconsin. He is currently in private practice in Wisconsin where he has been treating patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatrics, since 1996. In addition, Dr. Tomasello is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Tomasello received the Physician Recognition Award for Continuing Medical Education in 2000

Because prevention and education have always been of utmost importance in the care of his patients, Dr. Tomasello founded the online patient resource NetLivemd.Com.

Dr. Tomasello notes, "If a patient does not understand what is wrong with him/her and does not understand why I have chosen a particular course of treatment, the chances of a positive result are greatly reduced." The vastness of the internet and the new access patients have to volumes of medical information is astounding. The primary goal of NetLiveMD is to provide users with understandable answers to any medical or health-related question quickly and confidentially."

MED HELP SPONSORS

American Self Help Clearinghouse: The guide is your starting point for exploring real-life support groups and networks that are available throughout the world and in your community.

Aventis Pharmaceuticals : SPONSOR OF the BREAST and OVARIAN CANCER FORUMS on the Med Help website. Aventis is dedicated to improving life by treating and preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative pharmaceutical products. Aventis focuses on prescription drugs for important therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiology, diabetes and respiratory disorders as well as on human vaccines.

The Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center : The Taussig Cancer Center provides a comprehensive approach by a team of experts that understands cancer in all its forms. Their team is confident in treating cancer in any age group or area of the body. As a structured group practice, the Cancer Center can offer, in one location, a complete range of options for cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center: The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center is the best Heart Center in America, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual survey. Their doctors are leaders in cardiology, cardiac surgery, cardiothoracic anesthesia and research into the heart and its diseases. No heart program has more experience, more knowledge and better access to technology.

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Neurology Department: The Department of Neurology & Neurological Surgery of the Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1924 and has a rich history. Ultimately the Neurology and Neurological Surgery programs have evolved to where they are consistently rated as top programs in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.

National Jewish Medical & Research Center : National Jewish Medical & Research Center is consistently ranked the #1 hospital in America for Respiratory Disorders. National Jewish is the only medical and research center in the United States devoted entirely to respiratory, allergic and immune system diseases, including asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema and severe allergies.

Mastering Stress: Roger L. Gould, M.D., author of the Mastering Stress & Depression program, is a board certified Psychiatrist and is affiliated with the U.C.L.A. Department of Psychiatry. The Mastering Stress & Depression program is a guided self-help software program that assists you in recognizing the emotional and physical effects of stress, identifying the underlying cause of your stress, and developing effective strategies to combat stress.

Without support from the above organizations, Med Help International would not be possible.

We sincerely thank our Sponsors for their support!

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITIONS

Med Help International has been recognized as a leading source of reliable Consumer Health Information

by the following prestigious organizations:

NEWSPAPERS and MAGAZINES:

The Buffalo News newspaper

Florida Today newspaper (multiple issues)

Forbes Magazine

Internet World Magazine (multiple issues)

The London Daily Telegraph

Modern Healthcare Magazine

NetGuide Magazine

San Antonio Times newspaper

Self-Magazine

Time Magazine

U.S. News and World Report

TELEVISION

Fox Network News

BOOKS

Guide to Online Medicine by Tom Linden, M.D.

Health Online by Tom Ferguson, M.D.

Infomedicine by Baldwin and McInerney

Learning to Use the World Wide Web by Ernest Ackerman

ONLINE SERVICES

AltaVista

Ask Jeeves

America OnLine

Compuserve

Google

MSN Network

Yahoo

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

United States Department of State, Office of Global Issues

Letter of Recognition from Senator Bob Graham (FL)

Letter of Recognition from Congressman Dave Weldon (FL)

The National Cancer Institute

One of only 12 medical information” experts” invited to Washington, D.C. by the GAO., to participate in a conference on Consumer Health Informatics. Our recommendations to the U.S. Congress during this conference have, and will continue to influence Consumer Health Information legislation.