Dr. Christopher Terndrup (he/they) is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and core faculty in the Department of Medicine specifically focused on LGBTQ+ Health. He studied Spanish and Mathematics at Tulane University prior to staying for medical school there in New Orleans. There, he developed a passion for LGBTQ+ health, medical education, and physician leadership. He completed residency training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in the Urban Health Primary Care Leadership track, where he was Chair of the House Staff Council.
Before joining VUMC he spent six years at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. There, he quickly showed leadership as an operational and quality improvement leader, serving as Quality Lead and later Medical Director for Oregon’s largest Internal Medicine clinic, supporting them through the COVID-19 pandemic. He won awards for work with and mentorship of medical students, including the All-Hill Student Council Flame Award, the Oliver M. Nisbet Award, and helped their Queer Health Alliance win national recognition from the Medical Student Pride Alliance.
He served as Assistant Program Director for Ambulatory Medicine for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. In this role, he guided three continuity clinics, various subspecialty clinics, and supported the Ambulatory Education Board, as well as an integral role in the Improvement Science Curriculum for interns. He has published broadly on medical education for LGBTQ+ populations, including co-authoring a chapter in the Equal Curriculum. He has presented nationally on these topics, serving as Co-chair for LGBTQ Health Interest Group for the SGIM.
At VUMC, he will continue working with medical students and residents on LGBTQ+ Health and will be supporting the new LGBTQ+ Healthcare fellowship as Associate Program Director. He directs the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Certificate Program for residents and fellows, and a separate certificate for graduating medical students. He supports them as faculty liaison for the Pride in Medicine student group. He also serves as Medical Director for VIVID Health, VUMC’s LGBTQ+ clinical service lines. In this role, he supports a multidisciplinary and interprofessional group of professionals serving sexual and gender minorities in Middle Tennessee.
Chris loves his work and seeks to find work-life “integration”- allowing dedication to his important clinical care, medical education and leadership, as well as his growing family in Nashville. He enjoys quality time with his boyfriend Justin and their dogs Hugo and Hank- usually found watching the most recent action-based TV series. He is happy to be with his parents, brother, 3-year-old niece and 1-year-old nephew. He tries to follow his own advice by following a healthy diet and regular exercise program, stimulating his brain by learning Mandarin, and seeking new hobbies in his new home in Nashville.
