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Theodore A. Christopher, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, has been elected President of the Philadelphia County Medical Society.  He has served the society in many different capacities since 2002, including on the Board of Directors, membership on the Caucus Resolution and Membership Committees, and liaison to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.  
Dr. Christopher will serve a one-year term.

“I am extremely honored to serve as president of this prestigious society,” says Dr. Christopher.  “Through an open and honest discourse between physicians and the general public, we can continue to address the many important public health problems that exist in our community.”

After receiving his medical degree in 1981 from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, Dr. Christopher completed a residency in internal medicine at Brown University’s Rhode Island Hospital in 1984.  He then came to Jefferson and completed an emergency medicine residency in 1986, after which he joined the Jefferson faculty.   In 1998, he was promoted to clinical associate professor, and in 2002, became the inaugural Chairman of the new academic Department of Emergency Medicine at Jefferson.  In 2006, Dr. Christopher was promoted to full professor in his department.  He has lectured and published widely both nationally and internationally.  In addition he has written or co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed articles and delivered over 120 abstracts and research presentations on a wide range of topics, including disaster preparedness, hospital patient access and flow, and emergency health care. 

In addition to his faculty achievements, Dr. Christopher has held a variety of administrative and leadership appointments, including Chairman of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Disaster Preparedness Committees, and membership on the Medical Staff Executive, Bylaws and Pastoral Care Committees.  He has also served on the Board of Jefferson University Physicians, the faculty group practice.  For Jefferson University, Dr. Christopher has served on the Student Promotions, Research and Dean’s Letter Writing Committees.  He has been instrumental in mentoring many resident physicians and medical students and hopes that through his leadership, membership in the Philadelphia County Medical Society (PCMS) and the Pennsylvania Medical Society PMS) will flourish.

Dr. Christopher is board certified from the American Board of Internal Medicine (1984) and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (1987).  He is a current member of many national, professional and scientific societies including the American College of Emergency Medicine, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, the American Heart Association, the Shock Society and the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine.  Locally, he is a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, among many others.  Dr. Christopher also serves as a manuscript reviewer for two prominent national medical journals: Cardiovascular Research and American Journal of Medical Quality. 

Known for his devotion to patient care and teaching, Dr. Christopher has received numerous awards including being named a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians (1992); Meritorious Award, Contributions to Teaching and Patient Care in Emergency Medicine from the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (1999); and the President’s Leadership and Dedicated Service Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2004).

Editor’s Note:  Dr. Christopher is a resident of Maple Glen, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.