OPENING REMARKS: Dr. Max Gomez Medical Reporter, WNBC Dr. Max Gomez joined NewsChannel4 in July 1997, as the station's Health and Science Editor. His medical and health reports appear live Monday-Friday on "Live at Five," and he also contributes medical segments to the station's various newscasts.

A new horizon in healthcare is making its way into the public eye. Concierge Medicine - whereby patients essentially pay a set annual fee for "special service" - is getting a lot of attention from patients who are seeking quality healthcare alternatives and from physicians who are tired of dealing with health care insurance providers and HMO's. Please join us for a first-of-its-kind conference designed to get to the heart of this important trend in healthcare. This special event will bring leading physicians and healthcare leaders together with interested consumers to explore the benefits and risks associated with this emerging and quickly evolving approach to medical care. Featuring panel discussions and presentations from both the physicians who are actively practicing concierge medicine, and the consumers who have experienced first-hand the benefits associated with this type of medical coverage, this event will take the pulse of concierge medicine and examine its impact on both the consumer and the medical community.

This conference was specifically designed for consumers, healthcare professionals and other interested parties in mind. The informative content of the conference program was developed to appeal to:

• Physicians and Healthcare professionals - hospital and physician practice administrators, healthcare consultants and other medical professionals
• Consumers who are looking to stay informed on quality healthcare alternatives
• Investment/ financial professionals - Venture capital and private equity partners, healthcare analysts and others interested in the potential investment opportunities within this emerging space
• Technology professionals - Leaders within the healthcare technology industry
• HR Executives

Business Development Institute (BDI) is the leading provider of event-based business development programs to the professional services, healthcare, technology, publishing and media industries. BDI leverages the power of a world-class, cross-industry network of executive members, partners and clients to create customized, event-based business development programs that help companies build new sales pipelines and raise awareness for their products and services. To learn more about Business Development Institute, please visit the company website at: www.bdionline.com

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a research and information company founded in 1992 to help consumers find top doctors and top hospitals. Castle Connolly's established survey and research process involves tens of thousands of top doctors and the medical leadership of leading hospitals. The result - we identify top doctors and provide you, the consumer, with detailed information about their education, training and special expertise. Valuable information on outstanding hospitals is also available, since we believe that it is always the top hospitals that attract the top doctors. For more information about Castle Connolly, our publications or our other services, please visit the company website at www.castleconnolly.com.