BOCA RATON, FL: MedGen, a manufacturer of over-the-counter healthcare products, recently hired independent PR firm TransMedia Group as its AOR.

PHILADELPHIA: Cigna launched an integrated national campaign July 16 to reinforce its rebranding as a health services company using media outreach and promoting a new interactive Web site.

BETHESDA, MD: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute renewed two multi-year contracts worth nearly $10 million, including the organization's well-known The Heart Truth campaign, with Ogilvy PR Worldwide after a competitive bidding process.

NEW YORK: Following the merger with sister WPP agency GCI Group, Cohn & Wolfe said it plans to expand its global presence and focus primarily on large-scale clients.

WASHINGTON: Health Care for America Now, a coalition of more than 100 national and regional organizations, launched an ongoing campaign July 8 to encourage the public to be more proactive about healthcare change.

CAMBRIDGE, MA: Sermo, the social networking site for US physicians, launched its first national awareness campaign July 1 to encourage doctors to sign an open letter, created by the site's physician community, which calls for change in healthcare.

NEW YORK: The Center for Communication Compliance introduced an online program for PR professionals to train and receive certification about regulatory issues that affect the healthcare industry. It is the first standardized program of its kind, said Ilyssa Levins, president and founder of New York-based CCC.

WASHINGTON: The nonprofit Sabin Vaccine Institute hired Hyde Park Communications to develop new branding for the organization as well as provide strategic communications counsel and media relations.

WASHINGTON: The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) launched a new PR and ad campaign to battle what it calls "myths" and "inaccuracies" in the media about the use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in foods.

SANTA MONICA, CA: The City of Santa Monica awarded a $150,000 contract recently to Southard Communications to create an integrated PR campaign that will raise public awareness about the city's smoking restrictions.