Longtime trustee Rodney L. Goldstein was appointed chairman of the U of C Medical Center (UCMC) Board of Trustees last week.

Goldstein has served on the Board for 18 years and was vice-chair under James S. Crown, the interim chair of the Board, whom Goldstein will replace when the University approves the move in June.

Goldstein will be the first person appointed to the position full-time since Valerie Jarrett, who stepped down last year to move to Washington, where she is a senior advisor to President Obama.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve our exceptional medical community in this new role and to work even more closely with our outstanding physicians, researchers, nurses, management leaders, and volunteers,” Goldstein said in a press release.

The managing director of Chicago investment firm Frontenac Company, Goldstein has served on a number of other boards of directors, and is trustee of Cancer Research Foundation, Chicago, among other civic foundations.

University and UCMC officials were confident in Goldstein’s future success, emphasizing his experience and insight.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Rod’s dedication and experience to serve in this important role at a time of both tremendous opportunities and complexity,” said Andrew Alper (A.B. ’80, M.B.A. ’81), chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees. “Rod shares with University and Medical Center leaders a compelling vision of the Medical Center’s continuing role as a leading institution of research, clinical care, education, and community engagement.”

University President Robert Zimmer said Goldstein’s abilities match the Medical Center’s goals.

“The University is committed to outstanding research and education and the impact of that research and education on improving the quality of people’s lives. These values are powerfully demonstrated through the work of the Medical Center, where we are committed to delivering outstanding clinical care,” Zimmer said. “Rod will be a wonderful leader for the Medical Center Board in working with the University and the leadership of UCMC to see these values realized at the highest levels.”

Goldstein was on the committees that initiated the construction of Comer Children’s Hospital and Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine; he serves on three Trustee committes and has chaired the Finance and Strategy Commitee for 13 years, which he said has prepared him to be chairman.

“I come out of that experience understanding the importance of consistent investments in human capital, as well as facilities, that can sustain our position at The Forefront of Medicine. I’ve learned that while long–term economic sustainability is a foundation for our important work, it is just the starting point, and not an end in itself,” Goldstein said.

Dr. Everett E. Vokes, interim dean of the Biological Sciences Division and CEO of the UCMC for over a year, said that “Rod’s background in planning for the success of varied enterprises will be invaluable as the Medical Center enters a critical period of growth and new opportunities.”

Goldstein joined the UCMC Board in 1992, after his mother and a sister passed away from cancer. “Everyone has been touched in some way by health challenges to those they love. That experience drives my commitment to the Medical Center’s efforts to eradicate disease, change people’s lives for the better through research and education, and see that the sick receive superior clinical care,” Goldstein said.