AMC Values High-Level Collaboration

Close collaboration is a top priority to AMC's executive team, particularly when it comes to navigating new or unchartered territory for associations. Case in point: In early 2009, when the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) learned of a federal mandate to restrict the production of certain pain medications used by palliative care patients, it acted quickly to voice its disapproval to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before doing that, however, AMC's executive director of AAHPM sought input from fellow AMC executives well-versed in pain-medicine issues.

The move proved beneficial for AAHPM. In days, the head of the FDA called AAHPM leaders to apologize for its failure to consider palliative patients and to assure them that it was reversing its position.

Soon after that, the same three AMC-managed associations—AAHPM, the American Pain Society, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine—earned a place at the table for the FDA's deliberations on Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategies (REMS) regarding long-acting opioid medications for pain. By working together, these groups have raised the public profile of an issue that is critical to their members and the patients they serve.

Likewise, several AMC trade associations—the Metal Construction Association (MCA), Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, and the National Frame Building Association—not only share overlapping membership, but best practices as well. Having transitioned to AMC nearly 10 years ago, MCA serves a valuable resource to the two other more recent AMC partners in areas ranging from market development to educational programming and technology. Together, all three associations are working to grow their construction markets.

Collaboration is simply part of AMC's culture. All of our executive directors, whether they lead trade groups or healthcare organizations, meet regularly over lunch to share best practices and to discuss everyday issues affecting their associations.