Prof. dr. Willem van Mechelen, MD, PhD, FACSM (1952) was born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

After completion of his training as a PE-teacher he worked for 9 years at an Amsterdam high school.

He combined this with studying medicine at the University of Amsterdam. After his certification as an MD in 1982 he started working at various out-patient clinics as a sports and occupational physician. He also started in that year his scientific career with a part-time appointment at the Faculty of Human Movement Sciences of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He earned his PhD in Human Movement Sciences in 1992.

Currently, he is employed by the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam as a full professor of Occupational and Sports Medicine.

In this capacity he is the vice-head of the Department of Public and Occupational Health and the director of Research Centre Body@Work TNO VUmc (www.bodyatwork.nl). He leads a group of about 50 persons who conduct primary care research in the area of work, physical activity, sport and health.

Willem van Mechelen is a board certified occupational physician, epidemiologist and human movement scientist. He is a member of a great number of (inter-)national committees and advisory boards. He also is a member of the editorial board of 9 international peer-reviewed journals.