Gijs van Oort PhD- Sales and Operations
gvanoort@practivahealth.com
With over 22 years of experience in multiple aspects of preventive health care, Gijs provides the concepts and development of the Practiva Health program and services. He has worked for multiple health care providers in the design, development and operations of preventive health centers as VP for Wellness Services. He worked for the NutraSweet Company in Business Development to create a state-of-the-art wellness concept targeting the early baby boomers.

Prior to Practiva Health, he was co-owner of Applied Health Services, a company that created the Preferred Health program, a leading health risk identification and risk reduction program for mid-sized companies. With the acquisition of Applied Health Services by Fiserv Health, Dr. van Oort joined this group as VP for Wellness Services to oversee the transition. Together with Peter de Smidt he created Practiva Health in January 2006.

Personal Health Philosophy:
"We often take good health for granted until things start to go wrong. Though there are many illnesses we cannot control, we ought to spend some time and effort preventing those conditions we can control. If we all do something, we may be able to impact the looming health care crisis."

Peter de Smidt, PT- Information Technology
pdesmidt@practivahealth.com
With over 22 years experience in Information Technology, de Smidt has uniquely combined his clinical skills as a Physical Therapist with technology-driven health assessment & intervention protocols. By combining his knowledge and experience of pre- and post-surgery patient care, the embedded product protocols are based on sound medical principles and reflect his understanding of how to engage participants in their own health improvement, while educating them about their medical limitations.

Prior to Practiva Health, he was co-owner of Applied Health Services, the company that created the Preferred Health program for Wellness and Prevention.
De Smidt has also developed web-based case management software as well as "Online Fitness Challenge" programs.

Personal Health Philosophy:
"We are all responsible for our own choices, including choices about our health. Our job as health care providers is to educate our clients about their conditions and empower them to take charge of their health by making lifestyle choices that reduce risk factors. Exercise is a powerful medicine that can be used during any stage of any condition to improve your health and overall well-being.”

Gilbert (Gib) R. Meadows, MD- Medical Director
gmeadows@practivahealth.com
As Medical Director for Practiva Health, Dr. Meadows reviews the quality and care levels of the Practiva Health business.
With a specialty in orthopedics and spinal surgery, he provides a special oversight for any orthopedic considerations, chronic pain management and its relationship to medical costs. Dr. Meadows is Chief of Staff of the Spine Hospital of South Texas as well as Founder and President of the South Texas Spinal Clinic PA.
He is the driver for the soon to be formalized Medical Advisory Board for Practiva Health. He has published and presented extensively.

Personal Health Philosophy:
"In over 30 years of treating patients my observation is not novel. The happiest and healthiest patients are the ones taking care of themselves for good health’s sake. I ‘choose’ to be one of them."