An Integrated System

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Back in the day, even before I was born, 5 major studios controlled the movies. These vertically integrated companies owned the production of the movies and the theaters they were shown in, and had exclusive contracts with the actors, allowing them to limit competition. On May 4, 1948, the US Supreme Court ruled in United States v Paramount Pictures, Inc. that this was a violation of antitrust laws.

Now there is cable television. And Netflix. And YouTube. And TikTok. And a host of other entertainment outlets. Even a behemoth movie studio would have to scrape to compete in this complex, fragmented market. Movie theater screens vie for eyes with on-demand TV, home theaters, desktop computers, laptops, and cellphone screens. The competition is fierce, providing a wealth of artistic innovation to a hungry public.

“There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs,” said economist Thomas Sowell.¹ Breaking up the monopoly may promote variety and innovation; having an integrated system can provide synergies. We can see the potential for such synergies in the delivery of our ongoing dermatologic education, with a host of tools available to meet your educational needs.

The Dermatologist endeavors to provide valuable dermatologic education through print and online channels. But sometimes, you may prefer an in-person meeting or perhaps a virtual one. HMP Global, the company that publishes The Dermatologist, exists to deliver education to health care professionals and recently acquired Masterclasses in Dermatology, a provider of live events and programming offering accredited continuing medical education for dermatologists, advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals.

Combining Masterclasses with HMP’s Dermatology Week educational meeting and The Dermatologist magazine integrates content production and distribution to further our efforts to bring you evidence-based, practical information to help you care for patients with skin disease. Check out our new MCD Forum department in this issue, highlighting the cardiovascular-dermatology interface, for a sneak peek at what Masterclasses has to offer.

Reference:

1. Sowell T. A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles. Revised ed. Basic Books; 2007.