Christopher is Professor of Communication Studies at San Francisco State University. Trained in applied linguistics, communication studies, and health policy, his research examines how communication shapes health and well-being. He uses Conversation Analysis to study oncology, rheumatology, hepatology, mental health, and complementary/integrative health. His work highlights how talk contributes to patient care, decision-making, and health literacy. Current projects investigate how linguistic reference in clinical conversations can improve medication literacy and promote health equity, advancing communication-informed approaches to health justice.