Donald Christensen, D.O., FCAP

A board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist, Dr. Christensen’s expertise contributes to Western & Pinnacle Pathology’s (WPA) reputation as setting the gold standard in Maricopa County for pathology diagnostic services.

An Arizona native with expertise in surgical pathology, particularly breast, cytopathology, and hematopathology, Dr. Christensen’s friendship with Dr. Gilchrist and Dr. Stasik grew during their training at the University of Arizona. The pathologists’ camaraderie and clinical expertise created a team committed to delivering rapid, actionable, accurate diagnoses.

Dr. Christensen’s focus on timeliness and accuracy ensures WPA provides preliminary results quickly and accurately to improve patient care.

“I proactively reach out to make sure oncologists and other clinicians have what they need to do their job, and as a private practice with our own lab, we do it a lot quicker.”

After earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (OD) degree from A.T. Still University in Missouri in 2004, Dr. Christensen returned to Arizona to complete his anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson, serving as chief resident in 2008. His residency complete, Dr. Christensen served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a staff pathologist at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Texas before joining WPA.

During his military service, Dr. Christensen’s collaborative style and ability to convene a multi-disciplinary treatment team were pivotal to his success. It wasn’t long before his executive skills earned him multiple Medical Director titles and he began coordinating healthcare services for veterans across several specialties including microbiology, cytopathology, and transfusion services.

A warm, approachable, and confident clinician, Dr. Christensen earned The Army Achievement Medal for “providing outstanding leadership, selfless service, and exceptional performance above and beyond the call of duty”. Today, those same qualities continue to make Dr. Christensen and WPA the choice for pathology in the state.

“In our group, we do everything we can to give the patient the best chance.”

Dr. Christensen is a husband and a busy father of three; he spends his free time running on Arizona trails and playing tennis with friends in a local city league.