MEDIA ALERT

November 28, 2015

CONTACT PERSON
Cindy Funkhouser
President and CEO
Sulzbacher Center
Office: 904.394.8100
Cell: 904.923-0433
CindyFunkhouser@tscjax.org

Dr. Richard C. Christensen, Sulzbacher Centers Director of

Behavioral Health Services, Tragically Loses Life Overseas
The Sulzbacher Center is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Dr. Richard C. Christensen,
MD, the Centers beloved Director of Behavioral Health Services. Long known as Dr. C., Dr.
Christensen lost his life on Thursday, November 26, 2015, while on a two week mission trip with
his wife Kathy in Zambia for a Habitat for Humanity International Global Village Build build.
While out for his usual morning run, he was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. That Dick
and Kathy chose to spend their 32nd wedding anniversary by doing their fourth Habitat for
Humanity International Global Village Build speaks volumes about their commitment to help
others. Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in knowing that Dick died while doing what
he loved most: traveling with his wife Kathy, the love of his life; improving the lives of homeless
people; and taking his daily morning run said a Christensen Family Spokesperson..
Dr. C. was a hero to many of us through the years with his amazing compassion and healing
touch, not just for the people we serve, but for our staff as well, said Cindy Funkhouser,
Sulzbacher Center President and CEO. His humility and servants heart belied the incredible
respect and admiration that he commanded from clinicians nationwide. He was seen as an
expert on street psychiatry and homelessness, but avoided the limelight. It was ALWAYS about
the people that he served and that he loved, Funkhouser added.
Dr. Christensen was a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Community
Psychiatry at the University of Florida College of Medicine. His long-standing clinical
involvements as an academic community psychiatrist have been directed toward developing
and providing psychiatric services to under-served populations through academic-public sector
liaisons. His past clinical commitments included serving as medical director for a federallyfunded initiative targeting chronically homeless persons suffering the effects of co-occurring
disorders and developing an integrated psychiatry-primary care initiative based at UF Health.

Since 2000 his clinical obligations entail serving as the Director of Behavioral Health Services at
the Sulzbacher Center where he was responsible for overseeing the clinical services in two
psychiatry clinics, participating in psychiatric street outreach work, and teaching medical
students and resident physicians. Dr. Christensen was instrumental in founding the behavioral
health program at the Center. He was one of the first psychiatrists in the state to focus on
serving the homeless population, including hands-on field outreach, working with the
homeless wherever they live. He oversaw the Centers clinical services in two psychiatry
clinics, participating in psychiatric street outreach work (Sulzbachers Homeless Outreach
Project Expansion [HOPE] Team), and taught medical students and resident physicians. He
freely shared his insights, findings and methods with colleagues, conducted media interviews,
and participated in public forums to draw attention to the need for increased behavioral health
services for the homeless. Dr. Christensen was a prolific speaker at both national and regional
professional conferences; and authored over 100 articles and chapters in professional
publications and books on topics related to community psychiatry, medical ethics, and access to
health care for the poor and underserved, with a special focus on homeless individuals who
are mentally ill. A humble recipient who eschewed publicity, he received numerous awards for
the highest standards of excellence within the field of psychiatry. He was best known for his
passionate and relentless commitment to providing care, treatment and drawing public attention
to the mental health needs of the homeless.
Dr. Christensen was a beloved teacher and colleague, who inspired the best in all he touched
through his life and work. We are privileged to have learned from him for so many years and
this tragic, untimely loss needs to be responded to with action, so Dr. Christensens passion of
caring for mentally ill persons experiencing homelessness will continue to bear fruit. Fortunately
he has been clear and outspoken about what he thought needs to be done, and we will benefit
from his excellent articles, such as Caring for the Invisible and the Forgotten (see
http://psychiatry.ufl.edu/2015/11/10/caring-for-the-invisible-and-the-forgotten/), said Regina
Bussing, MD, Interim Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, College of
Medicine.
Nominated by the Sulzbacher Center for his incredible dedication and commitment to mental
health, and the impact he made to the community, Dr. Christensen received a 2015 Lifetime
Achievement Award for the Ripple Effect: Northeast Florida Mental Health Awards, presented
by Mental Health America of Northeast Florida. Dr. Christensen was the definition of servant
leadership for the mental health community. He lived to serve others and make life better for his
fellow man. He cared about people at their essence. Thats what made him a hero among us.
He devoted his life to tirelessly healing the heart, soul and mind of humanity, said Denise
Marzullo, CEO, Mental Health America of Northeast Florida.

Additionally, as Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Division of Community Psychiatry at

the University of Floridas College of Medicine, Dr. Christensen received UFs highest teaching
honor -- The Hippocratic Award -- and was named an Exemplary Teacher in 2011, 2012 and
2013. A thoughtful counselor, advisor, mentor, teacher, and role model, he was deemed one of
the Best Doctors in America for 15 consecutive years. Jacksonville has lost an icon with the
untimely death of Richard Christensen, MD. Dr. Christensen was the heart and soul of
psychiatry in the city, caring for the homeless with compassion and kindness, and developing
his unique mission of outreach to those living on the street. He was not only a consummate
clinician, but also a beloved teacher, mentor and nationally respected expert on community
psychiatry. He trained a generation of medical students and psychiatry residents as Professor
of Psychiatry with the University of Florida. Those who were fortunate to know and work with
him were inspired by his grace, humility and dedication to serving the most vulnerable in our
society. We grieve his loss alongside his family and the patients he served, said Steven Cuffe,
MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville
Dr. Christensens legacy is his ground-breaking work in the field of behavioral health for the
homeless. In addition to the HOPE Team, he created new outreach and access through peer-topeer offerings, including a Peer Specialist Program in partnership with the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI), in which Sulzbacher Center residents and those formerly homeless are
trained to counsel their peers with mental health and substance abuse issues. Recognizing
the increasing number of geriatric patients experiencing homelessness, Dr. Christensen also
initiated a Geriatric Behavioral Health Program to provide age-appropriate behavioral health
services to homeless persons 55 years of age and older, delivered by a multi-disciplinary
team. Dick was one of those very rare individuals who was good to the core. Besides being an
expert in his field, he was the consummate gentleman-so gracious, so soft spoken, so caring,
so giving and so quietly effective in everything he did. To say he was a servant leader is an
understatement. His compassion for the homeless touched many lives beyond the ones he
treated. Just knowing him has made my life, and countless others, richer and more meaningful,
said Julia Taylor, Past Board Chair of the Sulzbacher Center and the Womens Giving Alliance.
Unlike any other psychiatrist anyone has ever met, Dr. Christensen met people who live with a
mental illness where they were; on the streets, under bridges, in the woods and vacant
buildings, often at risk of his own safety. His personal commitment to his patients produced
many success stories. For example, a young woman who came to the Sulzbacher Center for
meals refused to interact with any staff attempting to provide additional help. Every morning, Dr.
Christensen patiently joined her for a daily walk around the campus. Over the period of one

year, he was able to coax her into the shelter where she received the services she needed. She
is now independently housed and self-sufficient.
There will never be another person like him and we will all be grieving personally peers,
Sulzbacher staff and patients alike. But, Dr. C. would want us to be sure and keep the focus on
the people he served and we all serve during this difficult time. We need to do everything in our
power to carry on Dr. C's amazing work and continue to care for those in need. Funkhouser
said.
About the Sulzbacher Center
Sulzbacher Center provides the opportunity for homeless men, women and children to achieve
a better life. The center's comprehensive services include street outreach, daily meals, safe
shelter, case management support, job placement assistance, medical, dental, and mental
health care as well as scattered-site housing. Every day, the Sulzbacher Center is home to
more than three hundred and fifty homeless members of our community - many of whom are
women and children. For more information, visit www.sulzbachercenter.org .
About the Sulzbacher Centers Homeless Outreach Project Expansion (HOPE) Team:
Started in 2000 at Sulzbachers downtown Jacksonville campus, the HOPE Team program utilizes
trained medical outreach specialists to engage individuals who are living on the street. Clinical staff
travels with the van to provide health and psychiatric services. The HOPE Team also distributes
clothing, blankets, food, water, and basic hygiene items to the homeless. The Sulzbacher Center
currently operates five HOPE Team vans: one team works with the Sulzbacher Beaches Clinic and
serves the communities of Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach; a second team
serves the greater downtown Jacksonville area with the Sulzbacher Downtown Clinic; three
additional teams work in partnership with the Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition of
Jacksonville and the Department of Veterans Affairs to meet the needs of our homeless military
veterans in Nassau County and downtown Jacksonville.
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