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) - Chairman of the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association's (HIGPA) Board of Directors, Gerald Vicenzi, president and CEO of SYNERNET, presented the first HIGPA Chairman's Award to Wayne Thompson, Board Secretary and president and COO of Konica Medical Imaging.

"Wayne has proven to be a valuable resource to the industry and demonstrates clearly the opportunities for participants of all sizes to have a demonstrable impact on the health care supply chain," said Vicenzi upon presenting the award. "Additionally, this year's recipient has constantly demonstrated creative ways to improve lines of communication with GPOs and their trading partners to further meet the needs of patients."

This year, HIGPA developed a new, annual award, the Chairman's Award. This award is given to an individual who has provided outstanding service to the Association and to the purchasing industry.

"I would like to say thank you to HIGPA for the opportunity to participate in the various capacities I have held, the most recent of which was Secretary on the Board of Directors," Thompson said. "The people I have had an opportunity to work with have made all of my HIGPA activities very rewarding, and to see HIGPA grow into such a significant influence in the health care arena has made the experience even that much more enriching. And now, The Chairman's Award! What can I say? I can only hope that many others among my health care colleagues seize the opportunities that exist for them to contribute to HIGPA's ongoing success."

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