Company Press Release
Muhammad Ali, Dr. Dean Ornish, and Lance Armstrong Will Use
Healtheon/WebMD Global Health Platform to Inspire and Educate Audiences
Worldwide
Thought Leaders Will Motivate Consumers to Take Control of Their Health
WebMD's 'Super Week of Wellness' Spotlights the Importance of Patient
Empowerment and Healthy Lifestyles
ATLANTA, Jan. 27, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- Healtheon/WebMD Corp. the first
end-to-end Internet healthcare company connecting physicians and
consumers to the entire healthcare industry, today announced exclusive
relationships with three highly respected, inspirational thought
leaders. The Athlete of the Century Muhammad Ali, 1999 Tour de France
Champion Lance Armstrong, and renowned physician Dr. Dean Ornish will
serve as expert WebMD ``wellness champions'' to provide hope,
motivation, direction and awareness of specific health issues.
This announcement marks the beginning of an ongoing commitment from
Healtheon/WebMD to leverage their global health platform, www. WebMD
.com, by partnering with thought and opinion leaders to further extend
their reach and communicate with people about health and wellness.
``These three men are truly an inspiration - not only to those of us in
the healthcare industry but to the entire world because they
consistently demonstrate a perseverance and dedication to their health
and wellness,'' said Jeff Arnold, chief executive officer for
Healtheon/WebMD. ``We are pleased to have each of these heroes involved
in reaching millions of consumers with WebMD's health and wellness
platform.''
Mr. Ali and Mr. Armstrong will participate in WebMD's ``Super Week of
Wellness'' activities, centered on Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta. Dr.
Ornish will be speaking on his pioneering work at the World Economic
Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Over the next few months, they will share
their stories, inspiration and encouragement through online content on
the WebMD site via hosting live online chats and participating in
specific online communities. The celebrities will promote health and
wellness through select participation in the extensive marketing
outreach, including things like Public Service Announcements (PSAs),
programming on the cable channel, and appearing in WebMD network
television commercials.
``We have established over 80 partnerships with the leading companies in
the healthcare, technology, and media industries to address the
fragmentation of the healthcare industry to result in a better
healthcare system,'' said Reggie Bradford, chief marketing officer for
Healtheon/WebMD. ``We are applying this same partnership strategy in
creating valuable relationships with thought leaders and key influencers
to continue aggregating all health information, resources and
constituents to one central resource, www.WebMD.com.''
An inspirational American icon, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, is helping
to launch the Parkinson's Community on the WebMD site. Mr. Ali, who
fought professionally for more than 20 years from 1960 to 1981 and was a
symbol of independence and free-thinking for many generations of people,
was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1985.
Mr. Ali will unveil the Parkinson's Community on WebMD.com and
participate in a live online chat with other Parkinson's patients and
families. The WebMD Parkinson's community will be the central point for
information and resources to help the more than 500,000 people in the
U.S. currently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and the 50,000 new
patients reported annually.
In one of the biggest comeback stories in the world, cancer survivor
Lance Armstrong won the 1999 Tour de France, becoming the first American
since Greg LeMond in 1990 to win that prestigious cycling race. As an
exclusive, long- term spokesperson for Healtheon/WebMD, Mr. Armstrong
will lead WebMD.com's cancer community.
``My own personal experience of fighting and beating cancer through hope
and perseverance will help the millions of consumers using WebMD as
their primary source for health-related information and products,'' said
Mr. Armstrong. ``WebMD is truly opening the door for consumers to
control their diseases through information and gain direct access to
physicians and the entire community focused on health.''
As a spokesperson for WebMD, Mr. Armstrong will host a number of live
chats within the cancer community, serve as a guest columnist in the
Reader's Digest column titled ``Ask WebMD,'' appear in Public Service
Announcements (PSAs), produce WebMD television commercials, and serve as
a guest or moderator on the cable station in the near future.
One of the most respected medical authorities for both consumers and
physicians, Dr. Ornish has directed research demonstrating--for the
first time--that comprehensive lifestyle changes may begin to reverse
even severe coronary heart disease, without drugs or surgery. Beginning
March 1st, as an exclusive national spokesman for WebMD, Dr. Ornish will
begin working with WebMD as a trusted resource on the WebMD site for
consumers who want to live a more healthy life and to fight or prevent
heart disease and other medical concerns. Dr. Ornish is a published
author of five best-selling books and numerous journal articles. He was
recognized by LIFE Magazine as one of the 50 most influential members of
his generation.
On the WebMD site, Dr. Ornish will provide consumers a customized,
interactive lifestyle program and all of the resources they need to make
and maintain the lifestyle changes they desire. Dr. Ornish's content
will also be available to managed health care organizations, integrated
delivery networks, and other third party-payers to help streamline the
entire healthcare community and reduce costs.
``Yesterday, Medtronic announced a strategic alliance with
Healtheon/WebMD focused on improving the quality of healthcare and
strengthening the doctor- patient relationship,'' said Glen Nelson,
M.D., Medtronic's vice chairman. ``We look forward to participating with
WebMD in enlisting trusted and respected individuals to directly reach
and impact the lives of millions of people, which will put us one step
closer in achieving our collective goal of a better healthcare system.''
Healtheon/WebMD is the first end-to-end Internet healthcare company
connecting physicians and consumers to the entire healthcare industry.
Healtheon/WebMD is using the Internet to facilitate a new system for the
delivery of healthcare, resulting in a single, secure environment for
all communications and transactions that will enable a more efficient
and cost effective healthcare system. With corporate headquarters in
Atlanta and technology headquarters in Silicon Valley, the company was
formed in November 1999 as a result of the merger of Healtheon
Corporation, WebMD Inc., MEDE America and Medcast. For more information
visit http://www.webmd.com.
SOURCE: Healtheon/WebMD Corp.
Copyright © 2000 Yahoo! / Copyright 2000 PRNewswire
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Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada
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