New Executive Director Student Health Named

UCSB Student Health will welcome a new executive director when Dr. Vejas Skripkus joins the university next month.

Skripkus comes to UC Santa Barbara from the University of Southern California, where he served as a clinical assistant professor for family medicine at USC Student Health.

Prior to that, from 2008 to 2017, he directed the campus’s Eric Cohen Student Health Center, which, under his leadership, attained its first accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

In announcing Skripkus’s appointment, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Margaret Klawunn cited his dedication to student health management and to providing the best healthcare possible to undergraduate and graduate students. She also recognized Dr. Ali Javanbakht for his committed leadership as Student Health’s medical director and interim executive director.

In addition to holding a Masters of Health Administration, Skripkus is a certified infection control specialist and has a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the excellent department of student health at UC Santa Barbara,” said Skripkus. “And I am grateful for the leadership and warm welcome of the interim executive director, Dr. Ali Javanbakht, and the entire student health management team.”

The university’s reputation as an academic leader with a diverse community and a collaborative environment drew Skripkus to the seaside campus, he said, adding that he looks forward to getting to know and understand the needs of the students here and continuing to implement best practices in quality, patient care, clinical guidelines and care design.

“I have spent my entire professional career working in university health care settings,” he noted. “I am very much drawn to the excitement and enthusiasm of undergraduate and graduate learners,” he said.

Skripkus will assume his new role on July 13.