Dr. John Christenson is “a mentor to all of us”

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

Count yourself lucky if you are in John Christenson’s orbit.

The renowned Dr. John Christenson, better known around Riley Hospital for Children as JC, was able to soak up a little love from his colleagues and family Friday as they celebrated him before he retires next year.

“JC is pretty much a mentor to all of us here in one way or another,” said Dr. Samina Bhumbra, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Riley who was among those wearing shirts emblazoned with the doctor’s face. “And if he’s not a mentor in a clinical way, he’s a mentor for how to navigate life.”

“A force of reassurance,” “the gold standard,” others say.

Dr. Christenson joined the Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Disease and Global Health at Riley on the fateful day of Sept. 11, 2001 – “I’ll never forget that,” he said. “Tuesday, Sept. 11^th, was the first day I walked into work at Riley.”

He was the guest of honor at Friday’s “Celebrate JC” event, which began with a lecture – Infectious Wisdom: Celebrating a Health Care Hero – by Dr. Carrie Byington, a nationally recognized leader in pediatrics and infectious disease.

The reception afterward, which drew scores of Riley leaders, physicians, nurses, other team members and his wife of 44 years, Angie Oliver, was a surprise, complete with cake, a caricature and plenty of hugs.

“It’s been 24 great years here at Riley,” the physician said, referring to the hospital community as his second family. “Working with the people here has been an extraordinary experience. I have learned so much, and I’m glad I’ve been able to contribute a little bit to the mission of what we do here. Thank you all.”

Dr. Christenson was a calm, capable leader during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as he quietly battled lymphoma. He participated in daily updates on COVID cases, saw patients virtually and assisted doctors around the state to help them manage pediatric COVID cases.

Dr. Chandy John, chief of the infectious disease division, said his friend and colleague is the best of the best.

“There are good doctors, there are great doctors, and there is JC. He’s in a category by himself. He is one of the best doctors I’ve ever worked with and one of the best human beings I’ve ever worked with.”

That’s what Dr. Rich Schreiner, former neonatologist and physician-in-chief at Riley, heard when he, along with Dr. Marty Kleiman, founder of the pediatric infectious disease division, recruited Dr. Christenson for a position at Riley 24 years ago.

A colleague in Utah told the physicians they would be getting the department’s best clinician, the best teacher and the best human being.

“And we did,” Dr. Schreiner said.

A native of Puerto Rico, Dr. Christenson completed his medical degree and residency at the University of Puerto Rico, along with a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

For years, he has been involved in international education and health projects in Central America and West Africa, and his work in travel medicine has been nationally recognized.

He still has several months to go at Riley, but the outpouring of affection for the man and the physician couldn’t wait.

Jane Watson, longtime nurse on the PICU and recent transfer to the infectious disease team, was among those on hand to celebrate him.

“He is the most genuine, kind human being I think I’ve ever met,” she said. “He remembers everyone and everything. He pays attention.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org