The journey that led Dr. Christopher Polk to join ViiV Healthcare as Regional Medical Director was inspired by what has always been Chris’ first passion— to improve HIV care and treatment. Early on, Chris decided to become an infectious disease physician motivated by the opportunity to care for people living with HIV. Chris is delighted to continue living his passion at ViiV while building on over twenty years of expertise in HIV care and an expansive career in infectious diseases clinical practice. In addition, Chris has deep experience in research, education, and healthcare administration. In his work at ViiV, Chris remains strongly committed to improving the lives of those at the heart of his work—all people living with HIV.
Current Role
As Regional Medical Director for the Mid-Atlantic Region, Chris interfaces and maintains relationships with healthcare providers and organizations that impact people living with HIV or people who may benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). He is responsible for medical education and medical information delivery, as well as building collaborations with healthcare professionals to best align ViiV’s strategies and products to the needs of the HIV community. Chris holds a long-standing relationship with a clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina that cares for people living with HIV, and will continue to maintain his involvement there in addition to his ViiV responsibilities.
Experience
Before joining ViiV, Chris was a Clinical Associate Professor at the Wake Forest School of Medicine at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was in clinical infectious disease practice in Charlotte for over 17 years, initially joining a private group practice that later was integrated into Atrium Health. Chris has held multiple faculty appointments, first at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Charlotte and then at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He formerly was Co-director of the largest clinic in Charlotte caring for people living with HIV and was Assistant Specialty Director for Research in Infectious Diseases at Atrium Health.
Chris has a deep history of involvement in HIV studies, particularly in those bringing new therapeutic options to patients. In addition to pharmaceutical trials, he has led initiatives and published studies on improving linkage and retention in care of people living with HIV, and continues to hold a strong interest in this research area. In addition to HIV, Chris has led clinical trials and published on multiple infectious diseases, including mpox, COVID-19, and infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
Education
Chris earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and completed an internal medicine residency and infectious disease fellowship at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He has a BA in Biochemistry and Psychology from Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Personal Interests
Chris lives with his wife and two daughters in Charlotte, North Carolina. He enjoys a good run and hiking in the North Carolina mountains with family and friends.
