Jonathan Licht '82: Gold Medalist for Outstanding Achievements in Medical Research

Jonathan Licht, MD, was presented with a Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Medical Research at the VP&S Alumni Reunion on April 24, 2026, in New York City.

Dr. Licht is a physician-scientist whose work has advanced understanding of how epigenetic dysregulation contributes to blood cancers, informing therapeutic approaches to leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. By defining how mutations and chromatin alterations reshape gene expression, he has helped establish the role of regulatory mechanisms in cancer biology.

Dr. Licht has held leadership roles across academic medicine, including serving as director of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, where he led the center to National Cancer Institute designation in 2023. He has also held senior positions at Northwestern University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he led programs in hematology, oncology, and cancer biology. His laboratory has identified key roles for chromatin-modifying enzymes—including NSD2, EZH2, and KDM6A—in malignancy, advancing understanding of their contributions to cancer development and treatment response.

An author of more than 240 publications, Dr. Licht has contributed to the field through editorial leadership and national scientific service. As director of the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he continues to lead research and mentor investigators in cancer epigenetics, neurodegeneration, and metabolism.

This award honors alumni who have made outstanding achievements in medical research by advancing their field and creating tangible impacts on patient care. Learn more about the VP&S Alumni Association’s annual awards program and submit a nomination for yourself or a fellow alum.