Dr. Christiansen serves as the West Virginia State Health Officer (SHO) for the West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health. During his tenure as the SHO Dr. Christiansen has focused on bringing public health back to the basics of protecting the public from preventable illnesses and rebuilding trust and relationships with the Bureau and Department. He is overseeing the launch of the first State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan in more than a decade, made outreach to stakeholders such as health systems, universities, and local health departments a core focus, and moved the Department towards an evaluation and outcomes-based approach to public health. He is a strong believer in the power of relationships and the importance of telling our collective public health story to advance the field and improve health outcomes in WV. Prior to serving as the State Health Officer, Dr. Christiansen served for two years as the Director of DHHR’s Office of Drug Control Policy. A position appointed by Gov. Jim Justice. Prior to joining DHHR, Dr. Christiansen served as Associate Professor in the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Health where he practiced primary care and addiction medicine. Dr. Christiansen is passionate about primary care and public health and has lectured in multiple states on primary care and addiction issues. A native of Spencer, West Virginia, Dr. Christiansen earned his medical degree and Master of Public Health degree from Marshall University.