RIDGEWOOD, NJ (October 17, 2017) – Robert Van Dyk, the president and chief executive officer of Van Dyk Health Care, was presented the 2017 Jan Thayer Pioneer Award during a formal ceremony at the 68th Annual AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Las Vegas. With almost 35 years of experience in the profession, Van Dyk is credited with bringing assisted living issues to the forefront and uniting long term care providers.
The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) recognizes individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Recipients of the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award must demonstrate strong leadership, dedication and major contributions to the profession.
“Bob has been a true visionary in our profession for several decades. Long term care and post-acute care are stronger in New Jersey because of his commitment to excellence” said Jonathan Dolan, President & CEO of Health Care Association of NJ. “He continues to build outstanding teams of care professionals who take pride in serving New Jersey families as members of the Van Dyk family. Bob has set the bar for every care provider, and we’re grateful for his ongoing service to this profession.”
Van Dyk Health Care, grounded in six consecutive decades of family ownership, has thrived under Van Dyk’s 23-year tenure. The company offers a full continuum of care services for New Jersey families with an assisted living community, two nursing and rehabilitation facilities, a home care company, and a soon-to-open memory day care center.
“I’ve known Bob for 28 years and have watched him make an immeasurable contribution to our industry” said Donna Fry, President of Valley Home Care. “Bob has always remained focused on quality care and service. He is always there to support our seniors with integrity, dignity, and respect.”
Van Dyk’s commitment to assisted living extends beyond his signature Park Place community. He expanded his impact on the profession by helping New Jersey public officials create the first regulations for assisted living providers. He also founded Assisted Living Training Associates, which has helped train and certify over 1,600 assisted living administrators.
At the national level, Van Dyk served for a record tenure of over 20 years. He helped transform the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) Residential Health Care Committee into the National Center for Assisted Living. Van Dyk was elected as NCAL’s second Chairman, succeeding Jan Thayer, the Pioneer Award’s namesake. He later served as AHCA’s Chairman.
Van Dyk earned his Bachelor’s in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his Master’s in Health Care Administration from George Washington University. He is a licensed nursing home administrator, residential care operator, and assisted living administrator.