Andrea

Christopher

MD

MPH

FACP

Biography

Andrea S. Christopher, MD, MPH, FACP is a general internist and medical educator at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She serves as Associate Program Director for the University of Washington Boise Internal Medicine Residency, as well as Stern Regional Faculty Educator and Clerkship Site Director for the UW School of Medicine.

Dr. Christopher’s passion for health equity motivates her interests in medical education and clinical practice. She works to translate her interest in health disparities into teaching physician trainees how health policy and the social determinants of health impact the clinical care of patients. This includes developing and co-directing “Advocacy 101,” an elective course for physician trainees across Idaho to learn how to advocate for patients beyond the exam room. Additionally, she serves as a founding member of the Idaho Health Equity Collective, which aims to address health disparities and promote health equity in Idaho through a community-centered lens.

Education & Training 

• MD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2005–2009)
• Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2009–2012)
• Chief Residency in Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Boise, ID (2012–2013)
• Fellowship in Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (2014–2016)
• MPH, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA (2014–2016)
• Faculty Immersion Training in Addiction Medicine, Improving Clinical and Teaching Skills for Generalists, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston MA (2022)

Honors

• Best Poster Presentation, Northwest Region Society of General Internal Medicine (2022)
• Idaho WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2022)
• Advocacy Award, Idaho Chapter of the American College of Physicians (2021)
• Richard M. Tucker Regional Internal Medicine Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2021)
• Idaho’s 50 Women of the Year, Idaho Business Review (2021)
• Idaho WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2021)
• Gold Humanism Honor Society, elected by nomination from University of Washington School of Medicine students (2020)
• Advocacy and Community Service Award, Northwest Society for General Internal Medicine (2019)
• Richard M. Tucker Regional Internal Medicine Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2019)
• Idaho WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2018)
• WWAMI Pro Recognition, University of Washington School of Medicine (2018)
• Early Career Physicians Council Young Scholar Award, American College of Physicians (2017)
• Mack Lipkin, Sr. Associate Award, Society of General Internal Medicine (2016)
• Best Oral Presentation, Northwest Region Society of General Internal Medicine (2012)
• Top Ranked Scientific Abstract, Northwest Region Society of General Internal Medicine (2012)
• David A. Hindson Award, Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (2011)
• Resident Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Medicine (2011)

Publication highlights

• Christopher AS, Smith CS, Tivis R, Wilper AP. Trends in United States Physician Work Hours and Career Satisfaction. The American Journal of Medicine. 2014;127(7):674-680. [original work]
• Christopher AS, Caruso D. Promoting Health as a Human Right in the Post-ACA United States. AMA Journal of Ethics. 2015; 17:958-965. [invited review]
• Christopher AS, McCormick D, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein DU, Bor DH, Wilper AP. Access to Care and Chronic Disease Outcomes Among Medicaid-Insured Persons Versus the Uninsured. American Journal of Public Health. 2016;106(1):63-69. [original work]
• Christopher AS, Argyle N, Hagman M. Engaging Trainees to Become Lifelong Learners. Academic Internal Medicine Insight. 2016;14(4):8-9. [invited review]
• Christopher AS, Himmelstein DU, Woolhandler W, McCormick D. The Effects of Household Medical Expenditures on Income Inequality in the U.S. American Journal of Public Health. 2018;108(3):351-354.[original work]
• Christopher AS, Dunay MA. The Right to Health Care: Book Review. Health Affairs. 2018;(37)3:510-511. [invited review]
• Gaffney A, Christopher A (shared first author), Katz A, Chateau D, McDougall C, Bor D, Himmelstein  D, Woolhandler S, McCormick D. The Incidence of Diabetic Ketoacidosis During “Emerging Adulthood” in the USA and Canada: a Population-Based Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2019;34(7):1244-50. [original work]
• Weppner WG, Hollon MF, Gillespie E, Christopher A. Seeking Inspiration in the Climate Crisis: Advocacy by SGIM Members. SGIM Forum. 2021;44(3):1,5,13. [invited review]