of Little Rock, AR

November 30, 1959 - September 25, 2020

Dr. Joseph Carl Jensen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 30, 1959. He passed away of natural causes at the age of 60 on Friday, September 25, 2020 surrounded by family and friends in Arkansas. Joseph 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 interned and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 1995. Following his surgical residency, he continued his training and completed a clinical fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care in 1996 at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2009, Dr. Jensen earned a Master of Health Administration from Webster University and in 2012 he earned a Master of Business Administration from the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

His professional society memberships include: Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE); Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS); Academy of Management, Health Care Management Division; Association of Program Directors in Surgery; Association for Surgical Education; Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (East); Southwestern Surgical Congress; and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

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 hundreds of surgical residents during his 24 years as faculty. For 10 years, Dr. Jensen served as the General Surgery Residency Program Director and five years as the Student Clerkship Director in Surgery at UAMS. He was highly respected for his teaching.

Dr. Jensen served as Associate Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Safety (ACMO-QS) at UAMS from 2007 to 2012. During this time, he led and contributed to countless safety, quality improvement and clinical informatics initiatives.

Most recently, as a pilot himself, he took an interest in Aerospace Medicine and provided a service to many types of pilots as a FAA Designated Senior Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and FAA Designated Employee Examiner.

As a young boy in the 1970's, Dr. Jensen joined the Civil Air Patrol as a cadet and participated in several National Cadet Activities. In 1995, Dr. Jensen rejoined as a senior member in the Arkansas Wing where he continued to excel. His major awards include: Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, two Distinguished Service Medals, Commanders Commendation, and the Gil Rob Wilson Award Level V (highest CAP professional education award). At the time of his death, he held the rank of Colonel and served as the Southwest Region Health Services Officer and Assistant Safety Officer. To date, he has accomplished the highest awards possible in the organization.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Roller Chenal Funeral Home at 13801 Chenal Pkwy, Little Rock, AR 72211 at 11 a.m. We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and limiting indoor funeral and visitation attendance to 70 people at one time. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com