Moderator: Mark Christiansen, Associate Clinical Director, University of the Pacific, Physician Assistant Program

Biography: Dr. Mark Christiansen currently serves as Department Chair and Program Director of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California. Prior to joining the University of the Pacific, Dr. Christiansen was on the faculty at the University of California Davis Medical Center, most recently serving as the program director of the Physician Assistant Master’s Degree Program in the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. He came to UC Davis from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) where he was a faculty member for the Physician Assistant Program for many years serving in a number of academic roles including Associate Program Director.

Dr. Christiansen practiced as a physician assistant in family medicine and emergency medicine for over 35 years. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Physician Assistant Program with a BS degree in 1977, and earned his Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree from UNMC in 1997. In 1999 he received his MS degree in Health Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. He received his PhD in Medical Sciences from UNMC in 2009. Throughout his career, Dr. Christiansen has been active in local, state, and national PA organizations.