Philadelphia International Medicine is sponsoring a trade mission from June 10 to 14 of health care executives from Brazil representing insurers and physician cooperatives with a goal of establishing channels for contracts in medical services, continuing medical education and health care training.

Nine representatives of Brazilian health care companies will be visiting Philadelphia International Medicine to attend lectures and tour hospitals that are part of the Philadelphia International Medicine network. PIM is an organization of nine area hospitals dedicated to establishing this region as an international health care destination of choice.

``Philadelphia is a leading global center for clinical treatment, medical research, continuing medical education and health services. Through PIM, the hospitals in the region are working to increase international opportunities for our health care sector while working in new ways to contribute to the economic growth of our community,'' said Andrew Wigglesworth, PIM president and CEO.

Attending will be Marques Aires Cunha, MD, director president, Patricia Carlier, special advisor, international business, and Mariana Santos, new business development director, all from Blue Life Assistencia Medica; Alberto de Felicio, director president, Antonio Felicio, director, Maria Ines Felicio, board assistant, Nilton Carlos Busch, MD, financial director, and Waldemar D'Ambrosio Filho, MD, marketing director, all of the Brazilian Confederation of UNIMEDS; and Eduardo Santos, director, Hospital Products Division, Brazil for Abbott International.

Abbott Laboratories is a co-sponsor for the trade mission.

Blue Life is a large Brazilian life and health insurance company that insures about 250,000 lives under various health insurance products. They will be discussing with PIM opportunities in the area of physician continuing medical education; patient referrals; and establishment of a joint marketing service.

UNIMED is a medical cooperative organization that includes 80 medical coops in the Sao Paulo area and 300 others around the country; 15 hospitals; and 20,000 physicians. The organization covers 11 million lives.

The organization will be discussing with PIM opportunities in the area of second opinion programs, telemedicine, continued medical education and hospital management consulting services, among others.

As part of their stay in the region, the Brazilian delegation will attend a clinical and a management seminar at most of the PIM hospitals. In addition, PIM has arranged a Health Expo for June 13 at which PIM members, sponsors and PIM will be able to meet one-on-one with members of the delegation to discuss contract possibilities.

PIM members participating in the trade mission include: 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.

Other sponsors for the trade mission include the Delaware River Port Authority, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Apollo Medicine Inc., Etcetera Language Group Inc., Princeton Healthcare Inc. and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals, in addition to the hospitals.

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.

You can find out more about PIM through its Website at www.philadelphiamedicine.com.