Melissa Jensen, MSPA, PA-C

Professor Melissa Jensen is a lifelong native of West Virginia who graduated as a Physician Assistant in 2010. She worked as a Physician Assistant in Primary Care from 2010 to 2019. She began working in Internal Medicine and Nephrology in 2019, where she continues to practice clinically to this day. She has experience precepting MD, DO, PA, and NP students and has been a full-time faculty member of the University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program since 2013. Professor Jensen is known for her use of creative pedagogy and games to engage students and reinforce material. Professor Jensen is also passionate about rural healthcare, political advocacy for PAs, and preventative health. In her spare time, she enjoys being involved with her church and spending time with her husband, her three children, and their cat. Her hobbies include hiking, ziplining, reading, baking, and tabletop board games.

• M.S.P.A. – Mountain State University, Beckley WV (Physician Assistant)
• B.M.S. – Mountain State University, Beckley WV (Medical Science)
  • Summa Cum Laude

Publications

• Jensen, M., & Ruane, P. (2021). Rural Health Care. In Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

Presentations

• Jensen, M. (2023, November 15). Just Beet It: Addressing Nutrition in Rural Populations [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Rural Health Association Annual Conference, Wheeling, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M., Mellert, A., & Preston, T. (2022, September 22). Gamification in the Classroom [Conference presentation]. Appalachian College Association Annual Summit, Pigeon Forge, TN, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2022, February 25). Recognizing Common Breast Disorders [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association Of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, Fayetteville, WV, United States.
• Elkins, A. M., Jensen, M. (2021, January 5). Exam Question Writing: What makes a great question? [Faculty inservice], University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program, Charleston, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2019, October 9). Breaking the Silence: Domestic Violence in Rural Populations [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Rural Health Association Annual Conference, Huntington, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2019, April 6). Motivational Interviewing to Reduce Vaccine Hesitancy [Conference workshop]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, Fayetteville, WV, United States.
• Adkins, J., Jensen, M., Newman, R., & Hughes, A. (2019, January 29). Gamification in the Classroom [Faculty inservice]. University of Charleston, Charleston, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2018, October 18). Recognizing Barriers to Rural Health [Conference workshop]. West Virginia Rural Health Association Annual Conference, Pipestem, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2018, June 15). Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic. A Curriculum for Preventing Cancer [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Immunization Summitt, Charleston, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2018, March 4). Treatment Options for Unipolar Depression [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, Davis, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2018, March 2). You are the Key to HPV Cancer Prevention [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, Davis, WV, United States.
• Necuzzi, J., Jensen, M., Babcock, C. K. (2017, June 8). West Virginia Legislative Update [Webinar]. Update on Immunization-Related Issues in State Legislatures – Immunization Action Coalition.
• Jensen, M. (2017, February 24). Managment of Major Menopausal Symptoms [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, White Sulfur Springs, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2016, March 5). Managment of Major Menopausal Symptoms [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, White Sulfur Springs, WV, United States.
• Jensen, M. (2015, February 22). Women’s Health Maintenance: An Update on Guidelines and Recommendations [Conference presentation]. West Virginia Association of Physician Assistants Spring CME Conference, White Sulfur Springs, WV, United States.

Service

• Script Your Future Medication Adherence Campaign – UC Physician Assistant Program Liaison, National Challenge Award Winner multiple years (2015-present)
• Camp EPiC (Exploring Professions in Healthcare) – UC Physician Assistant Program Liaison (June 2014)
• Food Pantry Organizer and Distributor, Mount Hope First Assembly of God (2002 – 2017)

Organizational Involvement

• Physician Assistant Education Association Member
• Steering Committee Member and Advocacy Committee Member, Virginia Immunization Network
• Board Member and Past President, Virginia Association of Physician Assistants
• Member, West Virginia Rural Health Association Fellow, American Academy of Physician Associates

Awards

• West Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants, Caduceus Award for Clinical Excellence (May 2010)
• UC-PASA , Outstanding Educator of the Year (March 2015)
• Most Knowledgeable Professor, voted by PA students (February 2018)
• UC-PASA Outstanding Educator of the Year (April 2018)
• Most Knowledgeable Professor, voted by PA students (February 2019)