Service Network for Physicians Creates Travel Service for Doctors, Benefits International Humanitarian Efforts

Online, November 2, 2009 (Newswire.com) - According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than a third of physicians work in excess of 60 hours each week. When not doing "rounds" or visiting with patients, physicians are required to attend Continuing Medical Education (CME), resulting in travel across the country and occasionally overseas. Combine CME travel with the infrequent family vacation, and physicians can spend an inordinate amount each year on travel-related costs.

To help physicians book travel and minimize travel costs, MD Preferred Services, an independent web-based physician resource center, has created MD Preferred Travel. In cooperation with Orbitz, the recognized leader in travel services, the new site will serve as the travel hub for thousands of physicians and medical professionals.

MD Preferred Travel, www.MDPreferredTravel.com, is a virtual travel assistant open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "Besides having incredibly busy schedules, physicians can spend thousands of dollars each year on travel to medical conferences and training," said Michael O'Malley, CEO of MD Preferred Services. "With the launch of MD Preferred Travel we hope to make traveling a little less burdensome and much more affordable for physicians. Our relationship with Orbitz gives the entire program stability, reliability and a doctor friendly interface."

MD Preferred Travel has chosen as its exclusive charity Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontières, an international medical humanitarian organization that provides aid in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. Each time MD Preferred Travel is used, a donation is made directly to the organization's life-saving emergency medical work throughout the world. "Choosing Doctors Without Borders as our charity made sense for MD Preferred Service Network and the doctors we serve," said O'Malley. "The work that the dedicated staff and volunteers of Doctors Without Borders do every day in serving humanity deserved our support. In addition to providing the industry's first travel site devoted exclusively to medical professionals, we are proud to donate all travel fees and commissions generated to Doctors Without Borders."

"We are extremely grateful to MD Preferred Travel for choosing to contribute to Doctors Without Borders. The support from this initiative is going to provide essential emergency medical care to people caught in medical crisis at what could be the most vulnerable moment of their lives, said Jennifer Tierney, Director of Development for Doctors Without Borders-USA. "Whether treating children for acute malnutrition, vaccinating against diseases like meningitis, or providing aid to people suffering from a natural disaster, the contribution of MD Preferred Services will make a substantial difference to our programs around the world."

If you are interested in learning more about MD Preferred Travel, please contact Benjamin Lewis at 301-963-7555 or [email protected]. For inquiries regarding Doctors Without Borders, please contact Emily Linendoll at 212-763-5764 or [email protected].

ABOUT MD PREFERRED SERVICE NETWORK

Launched in May 2008, the MD Preferred Service Network brings together a diverse group of professional service providers in a single, easy to use online resource center. The MD Preferred Service Medallion identifies top tier professionals who maintain stringent service standards geared to the special needs of the medical community.

The MD Preferred Service Network includes independently owned and operated service networks and publications including MD Preferred Legal Services (www.mdlawservices.com), MD Preferred Real Estate (www.mdpreferredrealestate.com), MD Preferred Insurance (www.mdpreferredinsurance.com), MD Preferred Financial Advisors (www.mdpreferredfinancialadvisor.com), MD Preferred Travel (www.mdpreferredtravel.com), MD Preferred Physician Jobs (www.medicalmatch.org), the daily medical blog RoundsOnLine (www.roundsonline.org) and the monthly E-Newsletter The Advisor.

For more information, please visit www.mdpreferredservices.com.

ABOUT DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS/MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontières is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.

Today, Doctors Without Borders provides aid in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. Doctors Without Borders provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. Doctors Without Borders reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols.

In 1999 Doctors Without Borders was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its work.

For more information, please visit www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

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