Deborah F. Christian, PA-C

​Geriatric Physician Assistant

Geriatric Medicine

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

 

Deborah Christian is a Physician Assistant providing clinical care and coordination services to minority older adults with complex medical and social issues residing in South Central Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Fisk University and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science where she received her medical training. Immediately upon graduation from Drew University, she was recruited to join the healthcare workforce at Los Angeles County, Department of Health Services. There, along with her mentor Dr. Haragopal Thadepalli, she helped develop a comprehensive geriatric medicine program at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center that received recognition by U.S.News & World Report as one of the nation's best geriatrics program in its 2002 “America's Best Hospitals” survey.

 

With her experience, expertise, motivation, and leadership, she now successfully manages an elder abuse prevention and intervention program funded by Los Angeles County, Department of Community and Senior Services. Through this position she has identified the need to improve health care outcomes of minority older adults, specifically after hospital discharge. As a result, Ms. Christian is now working diligently with community leaders to develop an interagency initiative targeting older adults that are at risk for hospital readmission. With her broad background in geriatric medicine, training as a Care Transitions Intervention® Coach and experience in providing care to minority older adults, she hopes to promote comprehensive strategies for mitigating “post-hospital syndrome” and its accompanying stressors that contribute to the vulnerability of minority patients soon after hospital discharge.