The Lyme disease community is mourning the loss of Dr. Alex Shikhman, a San Diego–based rheumatologist known for his willingness to treat patients with chronic Lyme disease when few clinicians in the region will do so.

As the founder of the Institute for Specialized Medicine, he cared for patients with complex autoimmune, inflammatory, and infection‑associated conditions, offering thoughtful, individualized care to those who had often been dismissed elsewhere.

Dr. Shikhman was trained in internal medicine, rheumatology, and immunology, and published extensively in peer‑reviewed journals throughout his career.

He brought that scientific rigor into his clinical practice, where he treated hundreds of patients with Lyme disease and related conditions, blending conventional and integrative approaches to address long‑standing symptoms.

For many in Southern California, he was a rare source of validation, expertise, and hope. Patients frequently described him as thorough, curious, and compassionate — a physician who took their symptoms seriously and refused to give up on complex cases.

His passing leaves a significant void for the Lyme community, especially for those who relied on his care in a region with few Lyme‑literate physicians. He will be remembered for his dedication to patients, his commitment to understanding chronic illness, and the lives he helped improve.