Gladys Amador
(305) 899-4919
Dr. Jeffrey Jensen named dean of Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine and Physician Assistant Program
Miami Shores, Fla. – Dr. Jeffrey Jensen has been named the new dean of Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine and Physician Assistant program, Barry Provost Dr. Linda Peterson recently announced. Jensen, who will take over for interim dean Dr. John (Jack) Nelson, begins his new role Aug. 23.
Jensen joins Barry from private practice in Denver, Colorado, where he has been the owner and clinical director of the Diabetic Foot and Wound Center since 1994. Dr. Jensen earned his DPM from the California College of Podiatric Medicine and accomplished his surgical residency training at Kern Hospital in Warren, Michigan. For the last 10 years, Dr. Jensen has served as Externship and Research Director at North Colorado Podiatric Surgical Residency. He has also been an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado, Health Science Center since 1995.
An active researcher, Dr. Jensen has been the principle investigator of more than 30 multi-center-clinical trials for wound care related drugs and medical devices. Most recently, Dr. Jensen founded MedEfficiency, Inc., a medical device company that has generated $2.8 million in research funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He holds four patents for devices to assist in off-loading fractures and treat diabetic foot wounds.
“As a practitioner for 17 years, I understand the opportunities and challenges our students will face in delivering high quality medical care,” said Dr. Jensen. “As dean, I look forward to bringing these real world experiences to the students. The thought of working with them in their formative years is very appealing. I also look forward to collaborating with Barry’s many reputable programs such as nursing, biomechanics and exercise physiology to foster research opportunities.”
A 2007 study by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany indicates that the nation’s nine colleges of podiatric medicine would have to triple their graduates by 2030 to meet the increase in foot problems resulting from growing obesity, diabetes, and aging rates. Jensen explains one of his top priorities will be to recruit the top students interested in a podiatric medical career. Jensen will oversee the school’s more than 200 students, (from first to fourth year) 13 full-time faculty and its more than 30 adjunct faculty. For the PA program, Jensen will help lead their 200-plus students, 13 faculty and 25 adjunct faculty.
Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine is fully accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education and recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Established in 1985, the school has graduated more than 1,100 doctors of podiatric medicine, trained more than 125 podiatric primary care residents, and provided more than $20 million in charitable care to the medically underserved. The School of Podiatric Medicine has more than 250 hospital-based clerkships and boasts a 36-month podiatric medical and surgical residency training program. Barry’s four-year program also offers a dual degree option with business administration (MBA) and public health (MPH).
The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC–PA). Since its inception in 1997, the PA program has graduated more than 500 students. In 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions awarded the program a three–year grant of $439,917 in 2001; a one–year supplemental grant of $75,000 in 2003 a grant of more than $475,000 in 2004. Physician Assistants are highly qualified health care providers who have been prepared to provide health care services under physician supervision, gathering and evaluating medical data and participating in the process of clinical decision making, diagnosis, and therapeutic management. Students earn a Master of Clinical Medical Science degree and the Physician Assistant Certificate.