About Us

The creation of this encyclopedia began 25 years ago, in 1984. At a time when only a limited amount of health and medical information existed, NewsRx decided to distribute a series of international publications that would inform and educate people interested in narrow health and medical subjects, especially informed consumers and professional researchers in the health and medical fields. It was a bold step, and although there were detractors, many others supported it. Confident that the publications would find an audience, NewsRx began research and information gathering, developed a core group of subscribers and launched the first title in 1985.

Initially, the publications covered all aspects of diseases and disorders, from social to medical, and were distributed to a diverse international readership. Getting started, however, was sometimes a rocky road. The controversies became national and international and even reached the pages of Newsweek magazine, and that was followed by an article in the Boston Globe touting these new publications as necessary “watchdog” publications. Other positive articles then appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and another in USA Today characterized the publications as having a major impact in the area of health and medical awareness and investigative journalism.

While most of the content was gathered from the CDC at first, the titles expanded their reach and began to monitor other agencies and organizations internationally. The goal was to be sure nothing went unreported, and if there were events or information that were still unfolding, the publications included “shorts” that explained as much as was known, with the promise that details would follows as soon as they were uncovered. To ensure that the publications were thorough, NewsRx staff plowed through health journals and conducted exhaustive research at medical libraries. The company pioneered a form of reporting findings that became the model for writers at all NewsRx and VerticalNews publications through the years.

Building on 25 years of experience covering health and medicine, we now have compiled for this encyclopedia the most significant information on this subject from the pages of 200 NewsRx and VerticalNews titles.