Publications | FAQs | HIGPA Code of Conduct Principles

	Receive our bi-monthly Chairman’s Report to stay up-to-date with industry news, trends and advances.
	Receive our daily eNews which provides our members with tools that assist them in responding to challenges and opportunities within our industry.
	And more ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Hickey
Phone: 703-243-9262

Arlington, VA (October 30, 2002) - The Health Industry Group Purchasing Association's (HIGPA) membership elected new members to its Board of Directors for the 2003-2004 term at the Associations' 2002 International EXPO in Orlando, Florida on October 15, 2002.

Three new members were voted to HIGPA's Board of Directors. Two members whose terms expire on December 31, 2002 were thanked by HIGPA President and CEO, Robert Betz, Ph.D., for their commitment to HIGPA and the industry and both were awarded a plaque commemorating their service.

The new members joining the ranks of the Board of Directors for the term running from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003 include: Karl Brother of Vector/AmeriNet and Ralph Dean of Joint Purchasing Corporation. Larry Lankard of BG Industries was voted for a two-year term running from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004. The departing members of HIGPA's Board include Steve Stuber of McKesson Corporation and Wayne Thompson of Konica Medical Imaging, Inc.

"I would like to recognize the exceptional contributions of both Wayne Thompson and Steve Stuber for their many years of service," Betz said. "These two individuals have demonstrated through their efforts the ability of committed individuals to make substantial improvements to the health care delivery system. We are grateful to them and their companies."

Following is a complete list of the 2003-2004 Board of Directors:

Chairman	Mark McKenna	Novation
Immediate Past Chair	Gerald Vicenzi	SYNERNET
Chairman-elect	Alfred J. LoBiondo	GNYHA Services
Treasurer	Todd Ebert	AmeriNet Inc.
Secretary	Howard E. Sanders	Premier Inc.
Board Member	Derwood Dunbar, Jr.	MAGNET, Inc.
Board Member	D. McWilliams Kessler	H.H. Kessler Foundation
Board Member	Henry Levi	Eli Lilly & Co
Board Member	Allan Fine	Peterson Consulting
Board Member	Ed Gravell	Cardinal Health
Board Member	Rand Ballard	MedAssets
Board Member	Kathy Hohenberger	Hill-Rom
Board Member	Darrel Weatherford	Consorta
Board Member	Karl Brother	Vector/AmeriNet
Board Member	Ralph Dean	Joint Purchasing Corporation
Board Member	Larry Lankard	BG Industries
President & CEO	Robert Betz, Ph.D.	HIGPA

HIGPA's annual International EXPO was held this year in Orlando, Florida. Over 640 executives and senior managers from health care related companies attended this three-day educational and networking event, including leading Silver Sponsors Aventis Pharmaceuticals and Merck & Company.

HIGPA is a chartered trade association of approximately 165 health care purchasing and supply chain organizations. HIGPA's Industry Members include purchasing groups, associations, and health care provider alliances. HIGPA's Trading Partner members include many of the world's leading health care product manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and related suppliers. According to a recent study conducted by a former principal analyst at the Congressional Budget Office, hospitals save patients over $30 billion each year by purchasing products through group contracts.

To learn more about HIGPA or the group purchasing industry, visit www.higpa.org or call 703-243-9262.

Return to Press Room