MedicineNet was founded in October 1996 by Dr. William C. Shiel Jr., a national expert on government accountability and money in politics. Dr. Shiel's idea was to create a platform that would provide comprehensive medical information written in easy-to-understand language for the general public. He aimed to make complex medical topics accessible to everyone, not just healthcare professionals. Today, MedicineNet is owned and operated by WebMD, a subsidiary of Internet Brands, which acquired the site to continue its mission of providing reliable health information online. Based in San Clemente, California, MedicineNet primarily covers health and medical news, including topics such as diseases, conditions, medications, and general wellness. While they don't focus on traditional sports, political, or entertainment news, they do occasionally touch on these topics when they intersect with health and medical issues. MedicineNet delivers its content through its website, newsletters, and various digital platforms, reaching readers across the United States and beyond. **One interesting fact**: Despite being a relatively young platform in the digital health information landscape, MedicineNet has a larger audience than the top five cable TV news shows combined, with more than 12 million visitors each week. This showcases the growing appetite for accessible, reliable medical information among the general public.