AAPL Acquires Greenbranch Publishing, Boosting Education Assets

The deal includes acquisition of the Journal of Medical Practice Management, along with Greenbranch’s inventory of books, podcasts and a monthly newsletter.

The American Association for Physician Leadership on Tuesday announced its acquisition of Greenbranch Publishing, adding a variety of educational media to further the professional growth and support of health care leadership and management.

The deal includes acquisition of Greenbranch’s flagship publication, the Journal of Medical Practice Management, its inventory of books, (including eBooks and audio books), podcasts and a monthly newsletter. Those assets will strengthen AAPL’s publishing division, which includes the Physician Leadership Journal, the association says.

Nancy Collins

As part of the acquisition, Nancy Collins, who founded Greenbranch in 1999, will join AAPL’s leadership team as vice president of content procurement and distribution. She will oversee a reconceptualization of PLJ and AAPL's online news site, changes intended to further transition association resources toward leading-edge digital and social media platforms..

“The acquisition of Greenbranch Publishing represents a powerful opportunity to significantly expand our educational content for physicians and health care leaders,” says Peter Angood, MD, FRCS(C), FACS, MCCM, president and CEO of the AAPL. Greenbranch “is the perfect partner to help us in our goal to empower physicians as leaders, to revolutionize medical practice and better serve the public health.”

Collins entered publishing in 1980 as an educational sales representative for Appleton-Century-Croft, a division of Prentice-Hall. Five years later, she joined the Williams & Wilkins editorial team, acquiring books in psychiatry and the sub-specialties of internal medicine. She advanced in the company, eventually becoming a vice president and publisher, heading up the proprietary unit that included oversight of periodicals, newsletters and continuing medical education products. A decade later, Collins left the organization to launch Greenbranch.

Collins says she has been impressed with AAPL’s commitment to the life-long education of physicians, who understand that “original content is a crucial complement to any educational environment.”

“The AAPL’s focus on quality and serving the information needs of their physician-members is compatible with the tradition of Greenbranch Publishing’s editorial excellence,” she adds.

The Journal of Medical Practice Management served as the foundation for the Maryland-based company, which specialized in the business of medical practice, compliance, patient safety and physician career issues.

“Nancy is a career medical publisher and an industry leader in developing well-loved brands, both in print and online,” Angood says. “We’re excited to work with Nancy and Greenbranch as we combine our energies to serve a broad range of physicians and health care leaders, at all points of their careers, with industry-leading educational content.”

AAPL, based in Tampa, Florida, is the only professional organization dedicated to providing education, career support and advocacy to support physician leaders as they create transformative solutions in health care.