02/15/2026
In Honoring Memory of Dr. Alex Shikhman, MD, PhD
Today would have been a celebration of your birthday — and though you are no longer with us, your legacy continues to shape the way I care for patients every single day.
Dr. Shikhman was a pioneer in integrative rheumatology and chronic illness care, blending scientific rigor with compassion for those who had too often been dismissed by conventional medicine. His work spanned decades of groundbreaking research and clinical practice, from autoimmune mechanisms to practical care strategies for complex, infection-associated conditions. 
As the founder of the Institute for Specialized Medicine, he created a space where patients with chronic Lyme disease, autoimmune disease, and inflammatory conditions could receive comprehensive, individualized care when so few clinicians were willing or able to offer it. His willingness to treat the most challenging cases — with curiosity, thoroughness, and respect — provided validation and hope to so many who felt unheard. 
Dr. Shikhman taught me not just clinical skills, but the value of listening deeply to patients, thinking beyond standard protocols, and blending evidence-based science with thoughtful, integrative approaches. Much of the clinical framework I use in my practice today — especially in serving patients with overlapping chronic infections, autoimmune, and autoinflammatory conditions — is rooted in what he entrusted to me as my first post-graduate mentor.
Your legacy lives on in the patients we serve, the lives you touched, and the standards of care you helped redefine. Thank you for your guidance, your wisdom, and your unwavering dedication to complex, compassionate medicine.
Forever grateful, always inspired. 🕊️
