HDMA rebranded as Healthcare Distribution Alliance

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — HDMA on Monday announced that the organization has changed its name to the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, effective immediately, at the opening general session of its 2016 Business and Leadership Conference in Colorado Springs. Additionally, HDA’s non-profit charitable research foundation, the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, will now be known as the HDA Research Foundation.

 

“Following two significant legislative victories (DSCSA and S. 483) and a recent push into the global arena, the time was right to reconsider our brand — the visual identity as well as the name — and reposition the organization for the future,” stated John Gray, president and CEO HDA. “While simplifying our name, the new Healthcare Distribution Alliance brand also reflects our organization’s strategic role as a supply chain leader and convener in advocacy and education.”

 

This marks the third name change for the Alliance. Founded as the Western Wholesale Druggists’ Association (WWDA) on March 15, 1876, in Indianapolis, it became the National Wholesale Druggists’ Association in 1882 and HDMA in 2001. The HDA Research Foundation was originally founded as the NWDA Research and Education Foundation in 1980.

 

“Throughout HDA’s 140-year history, the healthcare distribution industry has been called upon to adapt and lead through periods of change. In these times we have actively engaged with our supply chain partners to achieve our goals," Gray added. "The word ‘Alliance,’ in particular, better reflects our role as a convener of the supply chain — in the United States and now abroad — with the vision and persistence to successfully navigate these changes," he said. “Further, our position at the center of the healthcare supply chain allows us to forge key partnerships for the benefit of our ultimate customer — the patient — which is reflected in our new tagline, ‘Patients Move Us.’ While distributors often do not come into direct contact with patients, we recognize that our industry and the supply chain would not exist if patients did not rely on, and benefit from, our services and expertise.”

 

In addition to the Business and Leadership Conference launch, the new name is being announced in a week-long print and digital ad campaign appearing in Politico, Washington’s leading political and policy news organization. The campaign will run from June 13 through 17 in Politico’s healthcare verticals. HDA partnered with GMMB, a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm with clients around the globe, to develop and launch the updated brand, as well as to create the advertising.

 

“The board of directors is proud to unveil the new HDA,” said Ted Scherr, president/CEO, Dakota Drug, and HDA chairman. “HDA is well positioned for the future as it will continue to build on its 140-year history of collaboration and supply chain leadership.”