NEW YORK – WebMD Health Corp. announced Tuesday the launch of WebMD Health Exchange, a new health social networking platform.

The new platform will enable consumers to connect with health experts and other WebMD members to exchange  experiences, discuss personal challenges, and receive direct answers and support, according to WebMD.

"WebMD Health Exchange is a powerful new way to connect our 60 million monthly users to share their own experiences and personal wisdom across any area of health and wellness," said Wayne Gattinella, president and CEO of WebMD.

"We expect Health Exchange will quickly become a trusted source of information for our users and an important new communications platform for our sponsors," Gattinella said.

WebMD Health Exchange will also allow members to create their own communities and exchange information with other users, Gattinella said. Communities can be created for public access, which are searchable on WebMD and the Internet, or members can create their own private communities to securely exchange information with friends and family by invitation.

Experts available on the platform will include physicians from Duke Medicine who can address asthma to rheumatoid arthritis. Other experts will include Pamela Peeke, MD on diet;  David Colbert, MD on skin and beauty; Robert Harrington, MD on heart disease; and Susan Evans, MD on skin problems and treatments.  Bestselling author Richard M. Cohen will be available to discuss living with health issues.

Experts from the National Health Council, National Osteoporosis Foundation, American Gastroenterological Association, North American Menopause Society, and the American Veterinary Medical Association will also lead related community discussions.

The WebMD Health Exchange will also enable third-party sponsors to create branded exchanges and to host consumer discussions on specific health and wellness topics most important to them.