A longtime University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology, Gerald Christensen, M.D., died at his home in Omaha Saturday after a four-year battle with bladder cancer. He was 83.
Dr. Christensen began his association with UNMC in 1976 and completely retired this past July. He was director of the Eye Pathology Laboratory throughout his UNMC career and held the academic title of associate professor for many years. Since 2005, he had served as director of eye pathology and adjunct professor.
His interests were in teaching ocular pathology to students and residents, with a special emphasis on the relationship between pathological changes and the clinical presentation of disease processes. He read ophthalmic surgical tissue specimens and provided microscopic diagnoses back to ophthalmologists.
"Dr. Christensen was a model clinical pathologist and educator," said James Gigantelli, M.D., acting chair of the UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and director of the Stanley E. Truhlsen Eye Institute. "His professional career was dedicated to service – service to his patients, his colleagues, his nation, and those he was entrusted to teach."
In 2008, Dr. Christensen was one of the lead donors on the Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation on the UNMC campus at 38th Avenue and Jones Street. The center provides low-vision services to the region, with a goal of assisting people with low vision problems such as macular degeneration to gain – or regain – their independence and quality of life.
In 2000, he married Mary Haven, who served as associate dean of the School of Allied Health Professions for the final 12 years of her 38-year career at UNMC. It is now the College of Allied Health Professions.
"It was a good match," Haven said. "He was a devoted father and husband. We had wonderful times together. He was always very supportive of all his families’ endeavors."
The couple traveled extensively throughout their marriage going to every continent except Antarctica.
Haven was always impressed by Dr. Christensen’s long list of friends. "Every friend he ever had, he kept his whole life," she said. "He had friends going back to kindergarten."
Dr. Christensen served as an ophthalmologist in the U.S. Navy for 35 years, reaching the rank of captain. His tours of duty took him around the world including the Persian Gulf, Yokosuka, Japan, the Naval Hospital in San Diego, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
He was on the faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston from 1969-1975. He also was a clinical associate professor for Creighton University School of Medicine from 1977-1990 and for the VA Medical Center in Omaha from 1976-1990.
Memorial service details
A visitation will be held for Dr. Christensen from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries & Crematory, 7805 W. Center Rd.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Magdalene, 109 S. 19th St. The celebrant for the service will be Msgr. James Gilg, who is Haven’s brother.
Memorials should be directed to the Dr. Gerald R. Christensen Weigel Williamson Center Support Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation or to the Bert and Emelyn Christensen Professor Endowment in the College of Science through the Oregon State University Foundations.
A native of Corvallis, Oregon, Dr. Christensen earned his undergraduate degree from Oregon State University and his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland. His father, Bert Christensen, Ph.D., was the longtime chair of the chemistry department at Oregon State.
What others are saying
"Jerry was a great man. Two things stand out.
"First, as a clinician, he saw the patient behind the eyes. He recognized that it was very challenging to live with irreversible vision loss from eye disease, and he generously supported low vision services at the Weigel Williamson Center to help restore a person’s ability to participate in favored activities despite the vision loss.
"Second, he demonstrated a great care and concern for the entire department of ophthalmology. Research, clinical care, and teaching were all on his radar, and he attended monthly faculty meetings until he was physically unable to do so.
"He frequently took me out to lunch to discuss and shape the development of the Weigel Williamson Center. I will greatly miss him and his tremendous support."
John Shepherd, M.D., director, Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation
"A great pillar of Nebraska and UNMC ophthalmology, Dr. Christensen was the penultimate educator and ophthalmic pathologist. His contributions to the department over the past 40+ years were invaluable. I personally will miss his advice and commentary dearly!"
Shane Havens, M.D., assistant professor, ophthalmology and visual sciences
"Jerry was a real source of strength in the Department of Ophthalmology for many years. A strong force in teaching, he was one of the stable guiders or leaders and contributed a great deal to the development of the department."
Stan Truhlsen, M.D., longtime ophthalmologist and lead donor to the Truhlsen Eye Institute
"Jerry and I worked closely together for about 15 years covering eye pathology at UNMC. He was a great person and mentor. After teaching for years in the Navy, Jerry returned to UNMC where he spent a significant amount of time teaching residents and students about ophthalmology and ophthalmic pathology.
"Jerry's ability to correlate the clinical findings in ophthalmology with the pathology was amazing. Even after he retired from his full-time position, he would come to work a couple times a week to teach or work on eye cases. At one point, he even arranged for the two of us to travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, to teach eye pathology at the major eye center there. He was well-traveled and his military time in the Middle East, Japan and the U.S. made him appreciate the practice of ophthalmology in a variety of settings as well as appreciate the rich cultures.
"Jerry was a friend, coworker and mentor. On top of it all, he was an avid fisherman and was always up for a salmon fishing trip with one on his former residents and friends in Alaska, where he would get together and share some fishing stories. It was a privilege to know Jerry, work with him and travel with him. He will truly be missed."
William West, M.D., pathologist, retired in 2015 from UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology
"Jerry was the first faculty member I met when I joined the University of Nebraska Foundation 12 years ago. I quickly learned he was a behind-the-scenes person, a problem-solver, and he was passionately committed to residents. We bonded as advocates for making life better for individuals challenged with low vision. Jerry’s passing is a tremendous loss, and he will be lovingly remembered by all who knew him."
Karen Levin, retired in 2017 as director of development – UNMC for the University of Nebraska Foundation
"I was a very fortunate person to be able to work at UNMC Ophthalmology with Jerry Christensen over a 20-year span. He was a friend, a mentor and a go-to person for advice in so many areas. This morning as I watch the interview he did with Dr. Truhlsen two years ago, I am reminded of the wealth of department history they shared. They were collaborating on writing the history. The legacy he leaves on the many lives he touched is a gift we all share. My husband was also a Navy captain, so that's why I always called Jerry, ‘Captain.’ Fair winds and following seas, Captain!"
Kathy Austin, former administrator, UNMC Department of Ophthalmology
"The Weigel Williamson Center may not have even been created if it had not been for the staunch support of Dr. Christensen. We were so grateful that he was able to attend our 10th anniversary celebration in September and even participate in the program!! We will greatly miss this loyal friend."
Pat Jones, coordinator, Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation
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