We are ready to unveil the program for our 3rd Conference on Blogs & Social Media in Healthcare. Based on feedback from the first and the second Summits, we are expanding focus on Social Media as well as emphasizing hands-on tutorials and focus on specific applications. Mark your calendars:

• WHAT: Healthcare's Premier Conference on Blogs & Social Media
• WHEN: September 17/18, 2007 (Monday/Tuesday)
• WHERE: The Chicago Hilton, in Chicago, IL, co-located at Consumer Health World
• WHO: Trusted.MD Network, Transmarx, leaders of new and traditional healthcare media (see below) and YOU
• WHY: Network and learn how to benefit from the new horizons opened by the healthcare blogging and social media
• COST: Early$349 (before 06/30), Regular $399 (before 08/24), Late $499

We expect to launch a significant site update leading up to after the conference. Register for an account and sign up for newsletters to not miss any news.

Now, here is the program for our 3rd Summit:

Healthcare Blogging & Social Media Summit is day and a half conference for people who want to deploy blogging and social media on behalf of their companies and brands. We begin with basics, first dispelling the common myths. Have you been told that “blogs and social media are not important”, “too risky for healthcare organizations” and “we are afraid of losing control of our message”? Do not get blindsided by 20th century thinking and start learning about the brand issues that must precede blog and social media engagement.

The sessions will cover why this form of communication is taking off; how quickly it can damage a brand's reputation if left unanswered; the continuum between control and trust; how to create a blogger relations program; the best practices for establishing your own blog; how to enlist others to your cause; and how blogging has helped the consumer health movement.

Whether you represent a hospital, a health plan, a physician group, a pharmaceutical or medical device company, do not miss the fundamental transformation in health media and join us in Chicago on September 17-18. Learn how your peers harnessed the opportunities presented by the new media. Recognize and avoid the common pitfalls. Meet new citizen thought leaders whose growing influence is redefining healthcare marketing as we know it.

Sessions and speakers include (current as of 08/07/07):

MONDAY: September 17, 2007, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

9:00 – 9:50 (Keynote) THE IMPACT: New Media Technologies in Health and Care
What will be the magnitude of change brought about by blogs and social media? One of the top social media authorities provides a 30,000 feet overview of what is to come

• Rick Murray, President, me2revolution, Edelman

10:00 – 10:50 (Panel) MYTHS vs. REALITY: From Social Media to People Powered Health(care)
Does the buzzword blizzard make your head spin? New health media concepts can be confusing and the panel offers yardsticks for telling between true trends and misleading hype.

• Dmitriy Kruglyak, CEO, Trusted.MD Network
• Jane Sarasohn Kahn, President, THINK-Health
• Joyce Flory, Ph.D., Principal, Communications for E-Business and Health

11:00 – 11:50 (Panel) OPEN BRANDS: Trading Message Control for Consumer’s Trust
The challenge: Consumers have more power than ever to affect your reputation online. The opportunity: Engaging their creative forces can build positive buzz. Learn the do’s and don’ts.

• Fabio Gratton, Chief Innovation Officer, Ignite Health
• David Weigelt, Managing Partner, Immersion Active
• Robin Seidner, Director of Marketing, Collective Intellect

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 (Workshop) READY, SET, BLOG: The Nuts and Bolts of a Social Media Project
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The hardest part is getting started and the top social media consultants are here to give you a walk-through. Let’s go!

• Toby Bloomberg, President, Bloomberg Marketing
• Elisa Camahort, Co-founder and President of Events & Marketing, BlogHer LLC; Professional Blogger, with 9 Blogs Currently Active
• Carol Kirshner, VP, Promedica Research Center

3:00 – 4:00 (Panel) HELPING HAND: Social Media as a Platform for eHealth Applications
Social media is more than media; it is starting to blur the line between publications and applications. How can these new interactive technologies improve health service delivery?

• Enoch Choi, MD, Urgent Care Physician, Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Online Content & Community Expert, Forum Manager, MedHelp
• Scott Shreeve, MD, Founder, CrossOver Healthcare & Medsphere
• Ash Damle, Founder & CEO, MEDgle.com

TUESDAY: September 18, 2007, 9:40 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

9:40 – 10:30 (Spotlight) HOSPITALS & PROVIDERS: Trends, Strategies & Case Studies
What are the unique opportunities and challenges of social media for hospitals and other healthcare providers? Learn from the panel of leading practitioners.

• Nicholas Jacobs, FACHE, CEO, Windber Medical Center & Research Institute
• Tony Chen, Founder, HospitalImpact.org

10:40 – 11:30 (Spotlight) PHARMA & MEDICAL DEVICES: Trends, Strategies & Case Studies
What are the unique opportunities and challenges of social media for pharma and medical device brands? Learn from the panel of leading practitioners.

• Agnes Shanley, Editorial Director, Putman Media, Inc.'s Pharma Group
• George Laszlo, Publisher, The Laszlo Letter
• Rachelle Spero, SVP Healthcare Practice, GCI Digital Media

11:40 – 12:30 (Spotlight) WELLNESS & LIFESTYLE: Trends, Strategies & Case Studies
What are the unique opportunities and challenges of social media for wellness, fitness and lifestyle brands? Learn from the panel of leading practitioners.

• John Bell, Managing Director/Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy PR; Creator of Ogilvy's 360° Digital Influence practice which manages brands in the age of social media
• Margaret Moore, CEO, Wellcoaches
• Erin Anderson, eCommunity Mobilization Manager, American Cancer Society

We hope you will join us in Chicago, IL (hotel/travel info) on September 17/18 and we are always happy to hear from you in the meantime:

• To Receive Updates: Register for an account and opt in for our regular newsletters.
• To Sponsor the Event: Contact Dmitriy Kruglyak, using the feedback form or call direct at 650-329-0397
• To Purchase Tickets: On Transmarx registration site, choose "Blogging Summit" option and sign up on Trusted.MD