When did Medscape launch and who founded it?
Medscape launched on the 22nd of May 1995, created by SCP Communications, Inc. under CEO Peter Frishauf. The first editor was a physician assistant named Stephen Smith.
Questions about Medscape
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who has served as editor-in-chief of Medscape?
George D. Lundberg became editor-in-chief in 1999, having previously served as editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association for seventeen years. Eric Topol was named editor-in-chief in January 2013, while Lundberg returned that same year as editor-at-large.
How did WebMD come to own Medscape?
Medscape merged with MedicaLogic, Inc. in 2000. MedicaLogic filed for bankruptcy within eighteen months and sold Medscape to WebMD in December 2001.
What is Medscape AI and when did it launch?
Medscape AI is a generative artificial intelligence tool for clinicians that launched in November 2025. It integrates Medscape's proprietary content with peer-reviewed literature from more than 400 medical journals and real-time medical news, and is available at no cost to registered users.
Why was Medscape criticized for its connection to Philip Morris International?
In April 2024, Medscape was criticized for running educational content funded by Philip Morris International, a tobacco transnational. Critics said the tobacco industry should have no involvement in medical education. Medscape withdrew from a multimillion-dollar deal that included thirteen programs called the "PMI Curriculum," podcasts, and a television-style series.
What medical information does Medscape provide to healthcare professionals?
Medscape provides access to medical journal articles, continuing medical education (CME), a version of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE database, medical news, and drug information through its Medscape Drug Reference. It once published seven electronic peer-reviewed journals.