News — Dr. Cindy Christian, the director of Safe Place: The Center for Child Protection and Health at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,is available to share her expertise about child sexual abuse, its impact on victims and the entire family. In her 27 years at CHOP, Dr. Christian has established herself as a national expert on child abuse and currently holds CHOP’s Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Last year, Dr. Christian was also named Philadelphia’s first Medical Director. In her role there, Dr. Christian works with members of the Department of Human Services (DHS), and representatives from the Philadelphia community, to develop health care programs for abused, neglected and otherwise dependent children in the child welfare system.
Dr. Christian completed her pediatric residency and child abuse pediatrics fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she has spent her career. Dr. Christian devotes much of her clinical and academic work to the care of abused children. She directs the hospital's CARE clinic and provides care to children admitted to the hospital with abusive injuries. She currently serves as chair of The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect and is a faculty director of the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research at The University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Christian is a founding member of the Ray E. Helfer Society, and is a member of a number of other local and national organizations devoted to the care of abused and neglected children. In 2007, Dr. Christian was named Pennsylvania Pediatrician of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.