VAI appoints Mark Meijer to board

VAI appoints Mark Meijer to board

Mark Meijer. Courtesy VAI

The Van Andel Institute is welcoming a member of the Meijer family to its board of trustees.

Mark Meijer

VAI, a center for biomedical research and science education in downtown Grand Rapids, said last week that it has appointed Mark Meijer to its board.

Meijer is the founder of Life E.M.S. Ambulance. The company was founded in 1980 as a one-vehicle operation and has grown into an operation of more than 450 employees who serve the region.

David Van Andel, chairman and chief executive officer at VAI, said Meijer brings “a unique perspective that blends health care, compassion and an entrepreneurial spirit.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Mark join us,” Van Andel said. “His expertise will be invaluable as we continue to expand our scientific research and educational outcomes nationally and globally."

VAI said Meijer has been a member of the board of governors at VAI since the institute began, serves on the board of Meijer, Inc. and has experience in leadership roles in the emergency medical services industry.

On the board

As a member of the board, Meijer will help maintain the vision of the institute and ensure all resources are used to their maximum potential to find cures.

“I am certainly humbled and honored to be asked to play a small role in what is just a great institution and resource, not only for Grand Rapids and regionally, but, really, for research throughout the world,” Meijer said.

Meijer said that it’s a “tremendous responsibility” for VAI to act as a steward of contributions to the center and ensure that they’re “being used for maximum research bang for their buck.”

“The health care landscape has changed dramatically here from when I first started behind the wheel of an ambulance,” Meijer said. “Now, with Van Andel Institute in collaboration with the hospitals and Michigan State medical school, this is really becoming just a great community for leading-edge health care.”

VAI

Van Andel Institute, founded in 1996, said it’s dedicated to improving the health and lives of current and future generations through the work of more than 200 researchers at on-site laboratories and collaborative partnerships throughout the world.