The Healthcare Distribution Management Association has changed its name to the Healthcare Distribution Alliance as part of a larger effort to reposition the group for the future.

The association announced the name change during its 2016 Business and Leadership Conference, taking place this week in Colorado Springs, Colo. The group also announced that its nonprofit charitable research foundation, the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, has been rebranded the HDA Research Foundation.

"The word ‘Alliance,' in particular, better reflects our role as a convener of the (health care) supply chain—in the United States and now abroad—with the vision and persistence to successfully navigate these changes," HDA CEO John Gray 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.'"

HDA was founded in 1876 as the Western Wholesalers Druggists' Association. It became 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.

The new name is being announced in a week-long print and digital ad campaign appearing in Politico. HDA hired GMMB, a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm with clients around the globe, to develop and launch the updated brand as well as create advertising.

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