CMA launches social networking site for doctors
OTTAWA: The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has launched a social networking community called Asklepios for Canadian physicians, residents, and medical students.
“It helps connect physicians with their colleagues across the country, facilitates the sharing of best practices and fosters a deeper sense of professional affiliation,” said Dr. Brian Day, president of the CMA, in a statement. The CMA represents over 67,000 physicians.
Asklepios was launched at the CMA's annual general council in Montreal August 17-20, in which attendees got a sneak-peak.
“It was key for us to launch at this event because of the presence of so many industry leaders,” said Siobhaun Williams, marketing manager for Practice Solutions, the technology and practice management services division of the CMA. The Toronto office of Cohn & Wolfe helped execute media relations.
Named after the Greek god of medicine and healing, Asklepios offers physicians a personalized profile page. They can also create and join groups, where the CMA hopes to integrate provincial medical associations into the site. The site also features discussion boards and live chat.
“We approached it as a blend between LinkedIn and Facebook, by including networking and more personalized features,” said Heidi Wilson, product manager at Practice Solutions.
