Student Spotlight: Zackary Christensen MPH'24

Interested in becoming a physician, Zackary Christensen postponed applying to medical school in favor of first earning an MPH degree.  

“As a future physician, I want to understand how patients experience illness beyond their individual characteristics to include where they live geographically so that I can treat them on a macro scale,” he says. “A mentor at the University of Utah, where I received my undergraduate degree in biology and psychology, suggested pursuing an MPH.” 

No stranger to public policy, Christensen spent time working with local policy makers on the municipal level. He coordinated the campaign of a city council member-at-large who then asked him to manage a smaller municipal election campaign, where Christensen helped coordinate a social media plan and reached out to local constituents and groups. 

Given his interest in public policy and medicine, Christensen believes that as a clinician, he will be able to use his clinical knowledge to develop policies “that will actively impact the wellbeing of the American population and target resolutions to genuinely remedy any situation.” 

After comparing programs, including one at his alma mater, Christensen chose Dartmouth’s residential MPH because of its yearlong program and small class size. With a cohort of approximately 50 students and fewer than 15 students in each class, he valued how the interaction between students and faculty in small classes encourage close relationships that last beyond one course.  

“One thing I like about studying public health policy here, is interacting with professors who are active in that field and who were involved with the Affordable Care Act. Transparently sharing their experience gives me a glimpse of what it would be like working in that world,” he says. “I also think the intense exposure to public health issues we experience during the 10-week class sessions, mimics the real world of working on policy issues then waiting for results, and I appreciate that.” 

Christensen also values the opportunity to explore different fields, such as leadership and negotiation, to gain an understanding of how organizations are structured from a leadership perspective and how to effectively communicate with a CEO.

“We learn from the get-go how to talk about any disagreements that may arise and how to navigate those conversations,” he says. 

“The people I’ve met people in the program have become like a second family—we have developed such a tight network—and I know I will stay in touch with them after we’ve graduated,” he says. 

Though medical school is still part of Christensen’s plan, for now, he’ll continue working with researchers at Dartmouth Health, focusing on adolescent mental health while further exploring his career path in health policy.  

Written by: Susan Green

POSTED 5/30/2024 AT 11:55 AM IN #studentspotlight #public policy #policy