The Honorable Donna M. Christensen retired from the U.S House of Representatives in 2015 where she served nine terms. She is the first female physician to serve as a Member in the history of the U.S Congress. In the 111th, 112th, and 113th Congress, Delegate Christensen served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and on its Subcommittee on Health during healthcare reform. She also served on Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Small Business. Congresswoman Christensen chaired the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Braintrust for 16 years. She practiced family medicine and served in several public health administrative positions prior to her election to Congress in 1996 and recently established the Christensen Institute for Community Health and Empowerment. Dr. Christensen is the recipient of several awards and honorary degrees. She is a board member of Frederiksted Health Care Inc, Consumers4QualityCare, American Kidney Fund, and Black AIDS Institute, and serves on several other boards and Institutes. She also chairs an advisory council for the Institute for Gene Therapies.