Philadelphia International Medicine Signs Marketing Agreement with China Trade Center

For immediate release:

Philadelphia - Philadelphia International Medicine (PIM) and The China Trade Center of Philadelphia (CTCP) have signed an agreement to market PIM healthcare education and training services in China.

The agreement allows for CTCP to contact government officials, medical schools and prominent hospitals and physicians in China to promote PIM services, such as training programs for health care administrators, advanced clinical programs for physicians, training programs for nurses, observerships and visiting physician programs.

"This agreement will expand the capabilities of PIM to bring its healthcare training programs and services to China, which is investing heavily in medical services development and management. It presents a good partnership for both organizations as they collaborate to export Philadelphia's considerable healthcare expertise worldwide," said Andrew Wigglesworth, PIM president and chief executive officer.

The China Trade Center will use its contacts with officials in China to introduce PIM and its network of hospitals and physicians. PIM will customize training programs based on the specific needs of the client, and the Trade Center will help to finalize negotiations and travel and accommodation arrangements.

"We are very excited to spread the word about Philadelphia's healthcare story throughout China," said KeKe Wang, president of the China Trade Center. "In China, there is a growing need for medical and health care training, and Philadelphia and its medical schools, business schools and nursing schools, together with its hospitals, is uniquely prepared to fill the need."

PIM was created by nine hospitals to establish the Philadelphia region as an international healthcare destination of choice. Its network includes The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Crozer-Keystone Health System, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, MossRehab Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center.

The China Trade Center is a public-private strategic alliance dedicated to promoting development opportunities between businesses and organizations in China and Philadelphia. It recently played a key role in the planning of an official City of Philadelphia Trade Mission to China held in September 2002.

The partnership will lead to a steady growth in the number of Chinese healthcare practitioners visiting Philadelphia for advanced training. Programs being marketed can last from five days to three months. In addition to the PIM hospitals and physicians, hotels, the airport, interpreters, restaurants and shops may all benefit from the new partnership.

Philadelphia International Medicine is an organization that provides medical and patient support services to international patients. It also provides continuing medical education and health care training and education to international physicians, administrators and other practitioners. As the international department of several Philadelphia-area hospitals, international patients gain access to physicians and hospitals rated among the best in the world through one telephone call to PIM. You can reach PIM by calling 1-215-735-3575; fax, 1-215-790-1267; or e-mail, physicians@philadelphiamedicine.com . You can find out more about PIM through its Website at www.philadelphiamedicine.com .