WebMD's "Military Families" Supports Joining Forces Initiative

April 12, 2011 -- WebMD is working with the White House on a new initiative to help support military members and their families.

The initiative, called "Joining Forces," was announced Tuesday by first lady Michelle Obama and second lady Jill Biden, at a news conference in which the were joined by the President and Vice President.

The Obama/Biden effort calls for all sectors of American society to give service members and their families all the support they need.

"We call it Joining Forces for a special reason: It is about all of us coming together as Americans to join with the military families that sacrifice so much every day so we can live in freedom and security," Mrs. Obama said at the news conference. "This is about the responsibility we have to one another. One percent of Americans are fighting on our behalf, but 100% of Americans need to be fighting for those service members and their families."

To support this initiative, WebMD has created a destination that features health and wellness information specific to the needs of service members and their families. In addition, WebMD's Medscape site for doctors soon will provide resources for medical professionals helping military families.

"We are aware of and care about the unique health and well-being challenges of military service members and their families," Wayne T. Gattinella, CEO and president of WebMD, says in a news release. "We are committed to sharing our expertise and leveraging our platforms for the public and health care professionals to provide trusted, timely, and accessible resources to help."

"Many businesses, including some of the best known names and brands, have become a part of this," Mrs. Obama said. "We are tremendously grateful for so many signing up so early.

The goal of Joining Forces is to educate everyone, from citizens to businesses and nonprofits, about the challenges that military families face and encourage them to take action. Obama and Biden will travel across the country after the launch to bring attention to the initiative and highlight people who are supporting these efforts.