Doisy Names New Clinical Health Sciences Chair
09/05/2025
Crystal Botkin, Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Clinical Health Sciences at the Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University.
Botkin has served as interim chair of the department for the past three years and has been a faculty member at Doisy College for nearly two decades. As interim chair, she oversaw enrollment growth in several programs within the department and an increase in the physician assistant program's national rankings.
“Dr. Crystal Botkin has served as a strong interim department chairperson since my arrival as dean," said Bernard Rousseau, Ph.D., dean of Doisy College. "She presided during an exciting transition in leadership of the department and college. Dr. Botkin has worked tirelessly to advance the programs having an academic home in the Department of Clinical Health Sciences and received strong support for continuing in the permanent role by the department faculty."
Botkin started teaching in the nuclear medicine technology program and has served as the program's director since 2017. She was instrumental in the program's redesign in 2018, which offered eight new and updated courses, a shorter time to degree and better positioned SLU graduates in the professional market, as well as its reaccreditation in 2021.
She has added various administrative and leadership responsibilities to her portfolio, including serving as a clinical coordinator for the nuclear medicine technology program and vice chair of the Department of Clinical Health Sciences. She has also served on numerous departmental, college and institutional committees and task forces, and mentored more than 100 students in the past several years.
Botkin is a SLU alumna who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology, a Master of Public Health and Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration. She has demonstrated a dedication to impactful engagement and moving nuclear medicine technology education forward by serving on executive professional organization boards at the local, regional and national levels. She has served on more than16 committees and elected positions for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and provided more than a decade of service with the society's Educator’s Committee.
She has been recognized for her significant contributions to the profession and to professional education with multiple awards. The SNMMI named her a fellow of the SNMMI's Technologist Section in recognition of her leadership and significant contributions. She was further honored for her work through receiving the society's Presidential Distinguished Service Award in both 2021 and 2022, and the Kathy E. Hunt Outstanding Educator Award in 2022.
"The Department of Clinical Health Sciences is well positioned to continue to make significant contributions to Saint Louis University and its teaching, service and scholarship mission," Rousseau said. "I look forward to watching the department thrive under Dr. Botkin’s leadership.”
About SLU’s Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences
The Doisy College of Health Sciences has provided students with the tools and education to become well-prepared healthcare professionals since 1929. The Doisy College of Health Sciences offers healthcare education at the baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and professional levels in a variety of health-related fields.
About Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 15,000 students on two campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.