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BIOGRAPHY
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Daniel D. Christensen, MD
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Clinical Professor of Neurology Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology Neuropsychiatric Institute University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, Utah |
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Daniel D. Christensen, MD, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical Professor of Neurology, and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in Utah and has been at the University of Utah since 1965—as a student from 1965 to 1972, as a resident in psychiatry from 1972 to 1976, and as a member of the faculty since 1976. Dr Christensen’s research career began during his years as a student in the Department of Chemistry, where he completed projects in high-temperature thermodynamics and organic synthesis, receiving awards from the American Chemical Society and the University of Utah Department of Chemistry. Through medical school years he had the privilege of serving with the renowned hematology research team of Maxwell Wintrobe and George Cartwright, where his research garnered awards from the Student American Medical Association and Bush Memorial Research Award Committee. Research interests have since included basic science problems, such as the use of STM/AFM microscopy to define the structure of brain receptors, and clinical practice questions such as the safety and efficacy of various new medications for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and dementia. Currently, his projects center on psychiatric genetics. Recent successes have included finding the first depression susceptibility gene and moving to phase 3 development with a disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Christensen is the recipient of many teaching awards, including being named “Outstanding Professor” at the University of Utah School of Medicine on several occasions. His schedule of invited lectures number over 100 each year, and have included engagements in every state and many foreign countries. |
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