Pim van Gool, President of the Health Council of the Netherlands

Today, the Government appointed Prof. W.A. van Gool to the post of President of the Health Council of the Netherlands. At the recommendation of Edith Schippers (the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport), the Cabinet has decided to appoint Prof. Pim van Gool to this post for a period of four years, with effect from 1 September 2012. He will succeed Prof. Louise J. Gunning-Schepers. The post of President of the Health Council is a part-time position (0.7 FTE). Pim van Gool will devote the remainder of his time to his duties as Professor of Neurology at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Pim van Gool studied Medicine at the University of Amsterdam, where he was also awarded a PhD for animal studies on brain aging, carried out at the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research. He has over 25 years’ experience as a working scientist in the health service. In the year 2000, he was appointed Professor of Neurology, with special reference to the dementias. In this context, he conducted research into effective diagnosis and new drugs, as well as the prevention of dementia and prion diseases. The scope of his activities extends beyond the field of neurology, and includes studies on the mentally handicapped, primary health prevention, and forensic psychiatric disorders.

He has been a member of the Health Council since 2005. In the role of member or chairperson, he has served on several Health Council committees, on working parties charged with formulating national guidelines, and on scientific and social advisory councils.

On the international scene, he is actively engaged in the European Dementia Prevention Initiative, and is a serving member of one of the EMA’s (European Medicines Agency) permanent Scientific Advisory Groups.
 

His wide-ranging clinical background, together with his extensive research and managerial experience (in both national and international contexts), will stand him in good stead for the duties of President of the Health Council.