A proud native of West Valley City, Utah, Zackary Christensen works for the State of Utah Division of Professional Licensing as a Pharmacy Investigator. In this role, he inspects pharmacies, ranging from retail and hospital to wholesale, to ensure compliance with Utah law. His priorities include safeguarding patients and healthcare staff from preventable harm, educating licensees on regulatory expectations, and pursuing administrative actions when necessary, such as issuing citations, board reprimands, or probation.

While he aims to become a physician, Zack chose to pursue an MPH first. His time at Dartmouth shaped his understanding of how regulatory frameworks can influence health outcomes. As a student researcher at Dartmouth Health’s Levy Incubator and a pharmacy technician at Dartmouth Health, he developed skills in translating complex regulations into clear communication. This foundation proved essential for his current work.

A pivotal moment in Zack’s journey was his Health Policy course project. Tasked with advising the USDA on salmonella reduction in eggs, he conducted deep regulatory research and presented findings to sector leaders. He later interned at the Robert Graham Center in Washington, D.C., gaining confidence in tackling complex topics and presenting to subject matter experts. Both experiences laid the groundwork for his regulatory expertise and polished his professional communication.

Outside of his day job, Zack volunteers with the Utah Public Health Association’s Advocacy Unit. He writes op-eds, develops policy recommendations, and leads seminars to help shape emerging health policies in Utah—a state where the health policy landscape is still growing.

Zack reflects on his time at Dartmouth with gratitude. It's small MPH cohort fostered deep faculty relationships and practical exposure to health policy through intensive classes. These experiences prepared him well for his current regulatory work. He offers incoming students this advice:

“Explore broadly, especially in a one-year accelerated program. Don't be afraid of rejection and failing. You are learning! Take a class that's outside of your comfort zone.”

Looking ahead, Zack remains committed to his plan of attending medical school while continuing to leverage his policy and advocacy experience. His regulatory role offers insight into enforcement and rule-making, knowledge that he intends to carry forward into a future clinical career focused on equitable, impactful healthcare.

Zack’s path exemplifies the spirit of Dartmouth’s MPH– interdisciplinary training, applied leadership, public service, and flexibility in career direction. His unique blend of experiences positions him well to influence health outcomes, whether in policy or clinical practice.

Written by: Mia Soucy