By Christina Kantzavelos

Dr. Alexander R. Shikhman saved my life.

That is not something I say lightly, and I know many others who had the privilege of being his patient could say the same. For those of us living with complex chronic illness, the journey to healing is often marked by disappointment, dismissal, misdiagnosis, and endless searching.

Dr. Shikhman was different. He was a healer who saw the person behind the diagnosis.

Dr. Shikhman was a board-certified physician specializing in rheumatology and internal medicine, with decades of clinical experience treating connective tissue disease, autoimmune conditions, and chronic infections.

He earned his medical degree at Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University in Moscow and later completed a PhD in immunology. He went on to complete his internal medicine residency at the University of Oklahoma and a fellowship in rheumatology at Scripps Clinic.

He embraced the complex

He was not afraid of complex presentations. He embraced them. Many physicians shy away from uncertainty, but Dr. Shikhman leaned in. He listened deeply, asked thoughtful questions, and often saw connections that others missed. He treated the whole person, not just the isolated lab result or symptom, and that rare approach saved lives, including mine.

I remember one consultation when he looked at me and said, “You are a puzzle, but luckily I like to solve puzzles. You will be okay.” That moment gave me hope when I desperately needed it.

And indeed, I am okay.

Today I am a therapist who works closely with individuals navigating Lyme disease and complex chronic illness, and I cannot thank him enough for believing in my recovery when I had little reason to believe in it myself.

The grief I feel every time someone reaches out to me and I cannot refer them to him literally hurts. There was truly no one quite like Dr. Shikhman.

Community support and “Grief Circle”

To support our community during this loss, I will host a grief circle in partnership with the San Diego Lyme Alliance on Monday, March 16 at 12 PM PST. It is for anyone who would like to gather, share memories, and honor the impact Dr. Shikhman had on our lives.

Zoom Information
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89569588774?pwd=CX53K0lubZ0RLlEPy0tuyfcH4B4Gve.1

Meeting ID: 895 6958 8774
Passcode: 615644

San Diego Lyme Alliance

For continued support, the San Diego Lyme Alliance also hosts a free virtual Lyme Empowerment Circle on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 PM PST. The circle welcomes individuals and caregivers navigating Lyme disease, tick-borne infections, CIRS, mold toxicity, and related conditions. SDLA can be reached via their Facebook page.