Emily Nicklin to head University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees
Emily Nicklin to head University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees
Kirkland & Ellis Partner Has Been University of Chicago Trustee since 2004
June 20, 2013
Emily Nicklin, a lead corporate litigator at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and a trustee of the University of Chicago since 2004, has been named chair of the Medical Center's Board of Trustees.
Nicklin succeeds Rodney L. Goldstein, who was appointed chairman in 2010 and will remain a Medical Center trustee.
"The University is fortunate that Emily is willing to chair the Medical Center Board during this period of significant change in the health care environment," said Andrew M. Alper, Chair of the University Board of Trustees. "We have made great strides at the Medical Center under Rod's leadership, and Emily will preserve that momentum while helping us appropriately balance risks and opportunities. She will be a tireless advocate ensuring the Medical Center's continued leadership in medical education, patient care, community engagement and innovation."
"The University of Chicago Medical Center Board is a key component of the University's capacity for operating an eminent academic medical center in a complex health care environment," said University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer. "Emily's demonstrated commitment and analytic ability, which she brings to this role, will be enormously important for us as we continue to build eminence in research, education and patient care."
Nicklin received a BA ('75) and a JD ('77) from the University of Chicago. Since joining the Medical Center Board in 2007, she has served on a number of important committees, including the Audit, Development, Operations & Patient Care, and Executive Committees.
"Emily's skills, leadership and experience will make the transition on the board seamless," said Kenneth Polonsky, executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Chicago and dean of the Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine. "Like Rod before her, she understands the complexities of the current health care environment and challenges ahead. She also recognizes the invaluable contributions academic medical centers make to patient care and research discoveries, and we're looking forward to accomplishing great things under her leadership."
After graduating from the University, Nicklin began her career at Kirkland & Ellis. She is currently a partner and among the firm's top trial lawyers in cases involving professional liability, securities and common law fraud, contracts, product and personal injury cases and constitutional and municipal law for clients ranging from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Accenture, Dow Corning and Morgan Stanley, to name a few.
She is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and was named one of the "Top 250 Women Litigators" by Benchmark Litigation in 2012.
"I'm very honored to follow in the footsteps of Rod Goldstein, who provided great board leadership to a great institution. I look forward to working with the board to support the Medical Center in this time of challenge and opportunity in medical care, research and education," Nicklin said. "The promising breakthroughs from our faculty and staff, and the high quality of education the Pritzker School of Medicine provides the next generation of physicians and researchers, make me optimistic for the future."
The University Board of Trustees approved her appointment effective June 6. Medical Center and University trustees James S. Frank and Craig J. Duchossois were appointed vice-chairs of the board.
The University Board of Trustees also named two new trustees for the Medical Center Board:
- Paul Carbone is managing partner of private equity at The Pritzker Group, a private investment firm representing the Pritzker family interests. Previously, he was director and managing partner of the private equity group for Robert W. Baird & Co. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 1983 and a master's from Harvard Business School in 1987.
- Jonathan Kovler is president and treasurer of the Blum-Kovler Foundation and a life member of the Visiting Committee to the Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Medicine. He received his bachelor's degree from American University in 1968. The Kovler family has been generous supporters of the University, in particular through the Kovler Diabetes Center and the Marjorie B. Kovler Viral Oncology Laboratories, to name a few.