This past Sunday, as I stepped onto the soccer field with my division one team, I heard myself say, “Whatever you do, do not get hurt!” It was the stunning realization that I'm not as young and fearless as I was ten years ago. But I had to ask myself, why was I so afraid of injury? I work for a medical company and have a whole team of doctors at the ready if something happens to me.

While no one enjoys getting injured or sick, great health insurance and medical plans do not seem to ease our worries and concerns with health. More importantly, because of HMOs and the growing legal issues of practicing medicine, very few doctors today have the personal touch of a gentle bedside manner, and fewer understand people are not ok with impersonal visits. This can cause many of us to avoid doctors out of fear of bad news. It is my suspicion that it may be a link to growing health problems. Where the local town doctor used to be a pillar of the community, no one feels the comfort of house calls anymore.

My concern with both personal health and comfort with doctors is a major influence to working with SmileMD. I know and understand very little about medicine, I am not a doctor. I do understand technology, however, and that has been very helpful in allowing me to learn more about medicine, health, and good living overall. The internet can be a very powerful tool to find information relevant to your search. Getting online gave me the courage to learn how to live healthier and happier.

SmileMD is using online technology for providing a safer, informed environment where people can freely learn about health matters and have access to the doctors and specialists who will provide personal treatment. By allowing collaboration for more accurate diagnosis, we can help assure people things will be ok again.

Although the online world is considered “virtual”, our goal is to use the tools of real-time communication and online technology to connect doctors, medical professionals, medical institutions and people together in a very “actual” manner. We created a patient-oriented system that allows each person to create their own medical team of doctors and specialists. And the option to change or modify is always available. This way, we are practicing the truest form of preventative medicine.

Security is a major concern for us. That's why we are working with major corporations and US government to build a system incomparable in security and sustainability. Preparing for disaster, we are creating an incomparable network of continuity. Not only do we want people to feel safe online, we want to know that safety will never be compromised.

Most important in building our system is the individual person. Each person must feel as though they are receiving unconditional support in seeking information, opinions, services for health and medical needs. And this experience will not cost them a penny. While this aspect of our company is altruistic, we decided that it must be this way in order for true preventative medicine to be practiced for all people. Every person will now have the ability to be more than just a patient being told what to do by doctors, they now can find out what to do for themselves as a person.

Eating right and exercising are the staples of good health, and that's why I play soccer. But accidents are going to happen when you play the game. So I may not play with the reckless abandon of a kid anymore, but my fears are curbed knowing I've already put a medical team in place if a kid is reckless with me. That gives me more reason to smile.