Leo Henikoff, MD, who served as Chicago-based Rush’s president and CEO for 17 years, died April 24 at age 86.
Dr. Henikoff was Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center’s second president and CEO, and stepped down in 2001, according to a May 5 news release. The facility became Rush University Medical Center in 2003.
He joined Rush as a pediatrics resident in 1963, completed his cardiology fellowship training and served in Rush Medical College leadership positions prior to becoming dean and vice president for medical affairs at the School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia in 1979.
Dr. Henikoff then returned to Rush as president and CEO in 1984, where he succeeded James Campbell, MD, and served until 2001. Larry Goodman, MD, president emeritus of Rush University and former CEO of Rush University Medical Center and the Rush System, succeeded Dr. Henikoff.
Dr. Henikoff was honored in 2002 as president emeritus of Rush University and named a life trustee of Rush.
“One of Dr. Henikoff’s most important contributions was to execute on Jim Campbell’s vision of creating a nationally known academic medical center focused on the best patient care, research focused on transforming the treatment and prevention of human disease and education focused on producing the next generation of outstanding healthcare providers,” Dr.Goodman said in the release. “This allowed for a natural emphasis on the integration of mission components which continues to be a distinctive strength for Rush.”
Dr. Henikoff, his wife, Carole Travis-Henikoff, and family, joined by a longtime friend, established the Carole A. and Leo M. Henikoff, MD, Presidential Professorship at Rush University in December 2020, designed to attract and retain top researchers and clinicians, while recognizing accomplished faculty across any program within the university. Recipients are selected at the discretion of the Rush University president.
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