Col. Joseph C. Jensen

[ironputts]

November 2, 2020

Col. Joseph C. Jensen
Region Headquarters
Southwest Region

DR. JOSEPH CARL JENSEN was born in Milwaukee, Wis. on November 30, 1959. He passed away in Arkansas at the age of 60 on September 25, 2020 surrounded by family and friends. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, poppy, and friend.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Marilyn and Joseph Jensen. He is survived by his wife, Ashley (Rew) Jensen; one son, Tyler (Kristen) Hill; one grandson, Hayden; one sister, Kathy (Russell) McKee; his mother-in-law, Monica Rew, and several extended family members.

Dr. Jensen received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1989. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1995. He continued his training and completed a clinical fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care in 1996 at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.

Dr. Jensen practiced in the Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at UAMS. He was a gifted surgeon who was part of a team that shaped trauma care in Arkansas while training surgical residents during his 24 years as faculty. For 10 years, Dr. Jensen served in two director positions in the General Surgery Department at UAMS.

Dr. Jensen served as Associate Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Safety at UAMS from 2007 to 2012. During this time, he led and contributed to countless safety, quality improvement and clinical informatics initiatives. Most recently, he took an interest in Aerospace Medicine and provided a service to pilots as a FAA Designated Senior Aviation Medical Examiner and FAA Designated Employee Examiner.

In 1971, Dr. Jensen joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet. In 1995, Dr. Jensen rejoined as a senior member in the Arkansas Wing where he continued to excel. At the time of his death, he held the rank of Colonel and continued to serve the organization as an officer. To date, he has accomplished the highest awards possible in the organization.