Dr. Chris Renjilian
Associate VP for Health & Wellness, William & Mary
Partner: Patricia Lambert
Chris Renjilian is the Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness at William & Mary. A board-certified pediatrician with specialties in sports medicine and adolescent medicine, his professional passion has always been helping children, teens and young adults build resilience and thrive.
He knows that human connection is one of the most powerful and positive forces in a young person’s life, which has led him to support youth mentoring and literacy initiatives throughout his career. Chris and his husband, Patrick, moved back to Williamsburg a year ago, nearly 20 years after Chris graduated from William & Mary. They’ve loved rediscovering a familiar place while making new connections, and are eager to show up for the community. Their 100-pound dog, Hudson—a gentle giant with a white coat and black spots —is doing his part, too. He’s a regular on Duke of Gloucester (DoG) Street and is frequently mistaken for a small horse.
After graduating from William & Mary, Chris spent about 15 years in Philadelphia, where he attended medical school, completed his specialty training and started his career in medicine. As an undergraduate student at William & Mary, he was a walk-on to the men’s varsity gymnastics team, specializing in floor exercise and vault. He loved gymnastics because it combined artistry, athleticism and the thrill of doing something that scared him just a little bit every day. Today, Chris enjoys running, hiking, cooking—especially homemade pizza—and exploring the outdoors with Patrick and Hudson. He also loves the long dog walks and runs that give him time to let his mind wander, think creatively and dream up new ideas.
Ballroom dancing, however, is a whole new adventure. Chris is a novice, although he and Patrick have been known to enthusiastically “break it down” at weddings, parties and even at home when nobody is watching. Chris describes his dancing style as “exuberant”—which may be another way of saying he has invented several dance moves that probably should not be taught to anyone else. He’s excited to learn some actual technique and take on the challenge for two causes that mean a great deal to him. Chris enjoys a good challenge and can be fiercely competitive about the things he cares about, but he also believes that trying something new is half the fun.
Chris does have some experience with high-stakes choreography: as a William & Mary student, he once accidentally kicked a shoe through a glass windowpane in the historic Brafferton building. Apart from his friends there were no eye-witnesses, so the incident could have turned into an infamous campus caper, except… Chris left no room for mystery; he turned himself in immediately. He can also say the alphabet backwards, although he’s not yet sure whether either “skill” will help him on the dance floor.
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