- Medikidz
-
Medikidz 
Company Logo
Type Private Industry Medical Information Publisher Founded September 2009 Headquarters London Key people Dr. Kim Chilman-Blair, Founder and CEO & Dr. Kate Hersov, Co-founder and Deputy CEO Services Publishing Employees 30 Website www.medikidz.com/ Contents
Medikidz
Background
Medikidz is a global initiative set up by doctors to explain medical information to children.[1][2][3] The Medikidz superheroes are used to explain medical conditions, investigations, diagnoses, medicines and surgical procedures to young patients – in a way that they can understand.
The company was originally founded in New Zealand by Dr Kim Chilman-Blair and co-founder Dr Kate Hersov - with a vision to improve children’s health information around the world.[4][5] Currently headquartered in London, there are plans for expansion into North America in 2012.[6][7]
All Medikidz materials are written by doctors, and are co-authored by USA graphic novelists (John Taddeo and Shawn Deloache).[8] The work is further recognised by a medical advisory board of intertionally-renowned paediatric professors. These thought-leaders are used as independent peer reviewers for each of the titles in the comic book series. These are then transformed into dynamic graphic novels by an award winning team of artists.[9]
The "Medikidz"
The 'Medikidz' are a gang of 5 superheroes from Mediland, a giant living planet planet shaped like the human body.[10] Each one is a specialist in different parts of the body. The characters are designed to be fun and appealing to young people in order to be able to entertain, as well as educate them about serious medical issues.[11]
The leader of the team is Pump, who is the heart specialist.[12] He is ably backed up by his team of medical superheros:
- Skinderella is the Skin & Bone specialist [13][14]
- Gastronomic is the gastrointestinal specialist [15]
- Chi is the Lung specialist [16]
- Axon is the brain Specialist, with his pet robot Abacus [17]
The team take a child on a journey through 'Mediland'; where they can learn about any medical condition, both adult and paediatric.
Worldwide Presence
Having distributed over a million copies worldwide (with a presence in 35 countries, in 18 languages), the company is now established as the leading global healthcare information provider for children.[18][19][20]Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Will.I.Am, member of the Black Eyed Peas have publicly endorsed the Medikidz initiative.[21]
Medikidz Foundation
The charitable arm of the company, The Medikidz Foundation, has done work in Africa, most recently donating 100,000 comic books on HIV to Swaziland.[22] The Medikidz Foundation is now due to increase the work they are doing in poorer countries, funded by the commercial arm of the business.
Current Publications
Paediatric Titles
Medikidz Explain ...
- ADHD
- Asthma
- Autism
- Brain Tumours
- Childhood Glaucoma
- Childhood Overweight
- Clinical Trials
- Crohn’s Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Depression
- Epilepsy
- Food Allergy
- Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Haemophilia
- Hepatitis A
- Hereditary Angioedema
- HIV
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Kidney Transplants
- Leukaemia
- Malaria
- Niemann Pick Type C
- Nutrition (for Cystic Fibrosis)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
- Organ Transplants
- Osteosarcoma
- Scoliosis
- Seasonal Flu
- Short Stature
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
- Swine Flu
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Vaccinations
Adult Titles
Medikidz Explain ...
- Bowel Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Melanoma
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Prostate Cancer
Investigation and Procedure Brochures
Medikidz Explain ...
- CT Scans
- MRI Scans
- GI Endoscopy
- CPAP
- General Anaesthetics
- Blood Tests
- Insulin Pumps
- Blood Glucose Monitoring
External links
References
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-30/india/28073262_1_superheroes-doctors-cardiac-arrest
- ^ http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2012915/Sick-children-snap-million-comics.html
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6833058.ece
- ^ http://www.chartwells.co.uk/education-medikidz.htm
- ^ http://www.fmwf.com/features/2011/07/medikidz-plans-rapid-expansion/
- ^ http://www.themarysue.com/medikidz-comic/
- ^ http://johntaddeo.com/tag/medi-kidz/
- ^ http://www.homeopathyheals.me.uk/site/big-pharma/51-big-pharma/693-medikidz-books-to-explain-diseases-to-young-patients
- ^ http://lauraloveschildrensbooks.wordpress.com/tag/mediland/
- ^ http://www.epilepsyandmychild.com/medikidz.html
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ McCarthy, Angela (4 May 2011). "Comics help sick kids understand". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10723172. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8260401.stm
- ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-30/india/28073262_1_superheroes-doctors-cardiac-arrest
- ^ http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2012915/Sick-children-snap-million-comics.html
- ^ http://www.creativityfuse.com/2010/11/doing-good-medikidz-superheroes-make-medical-information-fun/
- ^ http://www.drtribe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=789:medikidz-medical-information-for-kids&catid=50:careers&Itemid=116
Categories:- Publishing companies of the United Kingdom
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
