American Health Council Names James VanDemark, BFA to Industry Board

Mr. James VanDemark, Professor of Double Bass and Chair of Musical Arts at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music, has been selected to join the Industry Board at the American Health Council. He will be sharing his knowledge and expertise in Musical Arts, Fine Arts, and Student Wellness.

Mr. VanDemark has been active in the healthcare industry for the last 40 years. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Buffalo in 1976. His passion for music and desire to make a difference in student wellness and conditioning through the musical arts led him to his current profession. Mr. VanDemark attributes the success he has had throughout his career to his imagination and strong work ethic.

Mr. VanDemark was appointed Professor of Double Bass at the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music at age 23, one of the youngest to ever hold such a position at a major music school or university. He has served for many years as Chair of the String Department at Eastman and is also the Chair of the Musical Arts major, Eastman's interdisciplinary academic honors program. Mr. VanDemark's day-to-day responsibilities include individual teaching, student wellness, conditioning, boxing, oversight of the academic department, and running the conditioning and health program.

As a renowned performer on the double bass, VanDemark has been the recipient of new works by three Pulitzer Prize winners (Gian-Carlo Menotti, Christopher Rouse, and Joseph Schwantner) and has appeared as soloist under conductors Zubin Mehta, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Pinchas Zukerman. He also has collaborated with many of the world's great string quartets, including the Cleveland, Tokyo, Guarneri, and Muir.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. VanDemark is most proud of having been featured on ESPN and in the Wall Street Journal for his boxing and conditioning programs and on the PBS NewsHour and in The New York Times for his arts and Culture Projects. His long-term goals include continued growth in his music and throughout his career.

Mr. VanDemark is a member of the American String Teachers Association and International Society of Bassists. Charitable organizations he has worked with include the Aquinas High School Boxing Program and the Ganondagan (Native American) State Historic Site.

In his free time, Mr. VanDemark enjoys traveling, food, and motorcycles.

About the American Health Council:

The American Health Council is the nation's only organization with a constituency representative of all sectors of the healthcare industry. From the coasts to the heartland, the American Health Council has drawn Affiliates from major metropolitan hubs and small communities. These Affiliates span generations and have reached different stages of their careers - from recent graduates to retirees. More information about the American Health Council and its mission can be found at: http://americanhealthcouncil.org

Additionally, the American Health Council strives to provide recognition and support for those individuals and institutions making the difference in patients' lives day in and day out. Throughout 2017, the AHC is honoring "America's Best Doctors and Nurses," as well as the nation's best medical universities and hospitals. The American Health Council's "Best in Medicine" and "Best in Nursing" awards programs honor the individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to medicine and nursing, as well as the training and education of physicians and nurses. The most current selections for these honors may be viewed here: http://bestinmedicine.org and http://bestinnursing.org.

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