University of Michigan Health-West announced the election of John Hendrickson as chair of the hospital’s board of directors and Bruce Courtade as vice chair. Hendrickson is founder of C&H Solutions LLC and former chairman, president and CEO of Perrigo. He has served on the UM Health-West Board of Directors since 2016. Courtade is a lawyer at Rhoades McKee PC; both he and Hendrickson are University of Michigan alumni.
“We welcome John and Bruce as chair and vice chair of our board and look forward to their leadership and guidance as we continue collaborating with University of Michigan Health to expand access to world-class health care in West Michigan,” said Dr. Ronald Grifka, president of UM Health-West.
“UM Health-West is a leader in innovation and patient-centered care in the region and I’m honored to serve in this new role for the organization,” Hendrickson remarked. “We intend to continue our path of strategic growth to better serve patients in Grand Rapids and beyond.”
Hendrickson succeeds Steve Van Andel, who has served on the hospital’s board for nearly 40 years, most recently as chair since 2021. Van Andel will focus his time on the role of vice chair of the U-M Health Regional Board of Directors, which he joined last fall when Sparrow Health System integrated with the University of Michigan Health Network. The regional board oversees the strategic direction and governance of UM Health-West and UM Health-Sparrow hospitals, which serve West Michigan and the Lansing area, respectively.
Van Andel will remain on the UM Health-West Board of Directors in an emeritus position, honoring his years of committed service. Beginning with the former Metropolitan Hospital, Van Andel has been instrumental in the organization’s evolution from Metro Health to UM Health-West and the resulting growth of the healthcare system.
Van Andel, as co-chair of Amway, initially joined the former Metropolitan Hospital corporate board in 1985. He has honorably fulfilled the role of interim chair on multiple occasions. Throughout his tenure, Van Andel has been a part of major milestones including the hospital’s relocation to Wyoming, its alliance with U-M Health, and the creation of innovative collaborative networks that have significantly advanced cardiovascular and cancer care services.
“Steve is an outstanding leader and has been a steadfast presence through some of the most transformative periods in our institution’s history,” remarked Grifka. “His leadership is deeply rooted in our organization’s heritage, and he possesses a forward-thinking approach to our future initiatives. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of service and extensive contributions and are thankful for his continued service within the U-M Health system.”
