Medical publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and software developer Global eMedicine are collaborating with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) to develop an online course on Medical Response to Weapons of Mass Destruction.

``In a time of heightened concern over terrorism, educational tools like these are of critical importance,'' said Vice Admiral James Zimble (U.S. Navy retired), M.D., President of USUHS. ``Most of today's medical professionals have never seen patients with symptoms resulting from nuclear, biological and chemical agents. Interactive online training is a viable methodology to rapidly equip medical professionals with the information and decision-making skills vital in response environments.''

The course training modules consist of thirteen lectures and ten case simulations that will educate medical professionals about the most potentially threatening agents used in terrorist attacks. The cases allow users to diagnose and treat patients who present with symptoms of various agents such as anthrax, smallpox, sarin and cyanide. The web-based format of the course provides for anywhere, anytime access to the cases and lectures.

``We are honored to collaborate with experts from USUHS to educate health professionals about medical responses to terrorist acts,'' said Susan Katz, Vice President of Medical Education and Health Professions at LWW. ``The USUHS faculty are in a unique position to lead these training endeavors.''

Congress has recently proposed legislation (H.R. 3254) to educate and train health care professionals. USUHS has been designated to develop the programs that will be jointly carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

The online course is scheduled to release in early 2002 and will be available for an annual license fee. For more information on the program, contact Heidi Alexander at halexand@lww.com