June 30, 2021 marked the last day as president of Palmer Chiropractic College West for Dr. William Meeker. The longtime Palmer administrator and 1982 Palmer West graduate spent his entire professional career affiliated with the Palmer university system, first as vice president for research and director of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research at Palmer's main campus in Davenport, Iowa for more than a decade; then as president of his alma mater in San Jose, Calif., since 2007.
"I'm very proud to have been a member of Palmer's academic community for my entire professional career," said Dr. Meeker in a Palmer College press release announcing his retirement. "My association with Palmer has energized my passions and provided me many pathways to serve the chiropractic profession.
"Particularly important to me was being given the opportunity to establish and lead the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, and thereby enhance its significant role in the development of the science of chiropractic."
Dr. Meeker's involvement in chiropractic and health care transcends his career at Palmer; during his tenure at the college, he served as vice chair of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC); and as a member of both the National Advisory Council of NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association.
Currently, he chairs the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, and serves on the boards of both World Spine Care and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. He also serves on the editorial boards of the Spine Journal, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Explore, and the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, among others.
In addition to his DC degree, Dr. Meeker also holds a BA in political science from Wabash College (1982) and a Master of Public Health from San Jose State University (1988).
Editor's Note: As of our print press deadline, which occurred prior to Dr. Meeker's June 30 departure date, Palmer College had not yet announced a presidential successor, although the college stated it would do so prior to Dr. Meeker's final day. You should have received a breaking news alert via email and/or social media if a new interim or permanent president of Palmer West was named between press time and your receipt of this print edition.
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