Dr. Chris Searles is the co-director of the UCSD Combined Program and a previous fellow of the National Institute for Program Director Development (NIPDD).  A San Diego native, Dr. Searles earned his undergraduate degree from University of California, San Diego and his medical degree from the University of California, Davis.  He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry in the UCSD School of Medicine and practices and teaches in both the primary and psychiatric care of the underserved. (Read an interview with Dr. Searles about his underserved work here).  He is clinically active on the Mobile Health Clinic, at St. Vincent de Paul, at Southwest High School, and at the Scripps Family Medicine Residency program in Chula Vista. He also provides collaborative care psychiatric consults throughout the UC San Diego Healthcare System across specialties.   He is actively involved in the behavioral medicine curricula for both the UCSD and Scripps Family Medicine residency programs and is the behavioral medicine editor of the 6th edition of Swanson's Family Medicine Board Review.  He was the recipient of the 2008 American Medical Association Community Service Award and was recognized by San Diego Metropolitan Magazine as one of its "40 Under 40." He is also the recipient of the 2010 LEAD San Diego Herbert G. Klein Visionary Award.

Dr. Searles is very active in the community and has a special interest in finding creative ways to address preventable disease.  His passion for preventive health is fueled by his firm belief that by finding community partners with similar goals we can all "work smarter" to address the health disparities that exist for families who live and work below the poverty line. He is the co-chair of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative and is a member of the board of directors of Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP).