After receiving his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine in 1973, he earned his internal medicine residency and pulmonary fellowship at UCLA-Harbor General Hospital. Dr. Van Meter served as the Chief of Staff at Ireland Army Hospital while in the armed forces. The American Board of Internal Medicine certified physician is a past Chief of Medicine at both Westminster Hospital and Huntington Beach Hospital, as well as a prior member of the Board of Trustees at the latter institution.