Lickerman named interim Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Counseling

Dr. Alex Lickerman has been named interim Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Counseling, effective Dec. 1.

Kimberly Goff-Crews, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students in the University, announced the appointment, saying Lickerman will be responsible for integrating all health-related programs for students into one comprehensive health and counseling service. Among his important tasks will be strengthening services and access at the Student Care Center, working with the student health advisory board, and creating a health promotion and prevention program.

“Student health is crucial to student success and remains a focus of our efforts,” Goff-Crews said. “This appointment is the latest in a series of improvements instituted over the last two years, following an in-depth review of our services and extensive conversations with students.”

A specialist in internal medicine, Lickerman graduated from the College in 1988. He received his M.D. degree from the Pritzker School of Medicine in 1992, and performed his residency and internship at the University of Iowa.

He returned to the University of Chicago in 1995 as an Instructor of Clinical Medicine, was appointed Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in 1996 and became a Clinical Associate in the Department of Medicine in 2009. He served for seven years as Director of the UCMC Primary Care Group, and has been recognized numerous times as an outstanding teacher of medical students and residents.

Goff-Crews said the new position was created after significant discussion with students about the need for and importance of an integrated and robust program of student health care services, counseling, and promotion of health and wellness. Lickerman will report to Goff-Crews, and will work with the Student Health Advisory Board to further assess the health care and counseling needs of students, evaluating existing services and identifying areas where new services or programs may be needed.

Later this month, Goff-Crews will convene a committee of students, staff and faculty who will undertake a national search to fill the position on a permanent basis.