Derrick Andrew Christopher, MD, MBA
Specialty:
Transplantation Surgery
Graduated From:
Vanderbilt School of Medicine - MD; Vanderbilt University Hospital - Internship and Residency; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - Fellowship in Transplantation Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Current Position:
Assistant Professor of Surgery at Northwestern Medicine
Current Projects:
As Associate Program Director of the general surgery residency, I have an interest in surgical education, specifically how we evaluate trainees in their operative skills.
As we have developed some initial tolerance protocols in kidney transplants that have demonstrated some efficacy in phase 2 studies at Northwestern, I hope to create a corollary tolerance protocol in living donor liver transplant patients.
What made you decide to work in transplantation?:
Specifically in transplantation surgery, I enjoy being able to incorporate all aspects of surgery: open, laparoscopic, microvascular, and now most recently robotic.
What do you find to be the most valuable aspect of your work?:
As with most in transplantation, the ability to transform patients’ health and lives by reversing an end stage organ dysfunction is simply amazing.
How have you served AST?:
I am currently a member of the AST Transplant Community Summit Taskforce Committee. As a fellow, I did benefit from the AST to attend the AST Fellows Symposium on Transplantation. I have also benefited from the AST in connecting with other transplant professionals around the country.
Fun Facts:
I enjoy all musical genres. I used to be a DJ in college and medical school. In the OR now, I play mixes that include pop, rock, country, oldies, classical, and hip-hop.