Dr. Christian Carr: U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award
Growing up in a rural area of Utah, Dr. Christian Carr witnessed firsthand the effects of living in a medically underserved area. Now he wishes to give back to the community and improve the lives of those in need, aspiring to work in complex medical dermatology and pursue health system research.
What this award means: “Much of the reason I went into public health and medicine was based on growing up in a medically underserved area. There are significant difficulties that people in these areas face every day. I want to be able to improve the lives of underserved populations through enhancing health care delivery. This award is recognition that my efforts matter, and that the health of all people is important.”
Mentor comment: “Christian was primarily responsible for the success of our research to analyze the effectiveness of teledermatology at Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care Clinic. Our analysis demonstrates that the patients seen through teledermatology had improved access to care and were less likely to need in-person visits. The majority of patients seen in this clinic do not have insurance and would not be able to get dermatologic care anywhere else.” – Dr. Arturo Dominguez, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Internal Medicine
Background and family: “I grew up in a rural town in Utah as the youngest of nine siblings. My father is a colonel in the U.S. Army and my mother teaches early childhood development at Snow College.”
What led to your career path: “While growing up, I consistently saw my parents and grandparents forgo important medical care due to significant competing interests and reduced access to care. These difficulties engendered in me the desire to pursue a career in medicine and public health researching health systems and epidemiology.”
UTSW activities: “I served as Database Manager for the HepBFree Program, a student-led program that provides free hepatitis B and C screenings for the local community.”
Surprising fact: “I lived in Southern Italy for two years and speak fluent Italian. I love to cook all types of food, but especially Italian.”
Future plans: “I plan to complete a dermatology residency at UT Southwestern, then work in complex medical dermatology and continue my research in health systems.”
About the award: Administered by the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee, the Excellence in Public Health Award recognizes medical students who have positively impacted public health in their communities.