Wallace N. Jensen
August 31, 1921 — March 13, 2003
Wallace N. Jensen
DR. WALLACE N. JENSEN
BETHLEHEM - Dr. Wallace N. Jensen, a nationally known educator and hematologist who consulted in the first days of the space program and did some of the earliest work on sickle-cell anemia died March 13th in Bethlehem.
Most recently Dr. Jensen, 81, had been a professor and chief of the department of medicine at the New York Medical College at the Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York. He retired in 1996.
Dr. Jensen moved to Bethlehem after his retirement, but for decades he and his family had visited relatives living in Bethlehem.
Born in Utah, Dr. Jensen got his medical degree from the University of Utah in 1945, followed by an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then served in the U.S. Army. He later worked with some of the most prestigious figures in hematology, the study of the blood.
He was among the earliest researchers into sickle cell anemia, a disease of the red-blood cell that often afflicts African Americans. In the early 1970's he was honored during a ceremony in Philadelphia by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his work.
As America's space program accelerated in 1967 Dr. Jensen was asked to help investigate how space flight affected an astronaut's blood chemistry and he became a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Space Medicine Medical Advisory Council.
He told his children how the first astronauts were neither particularly interested nor cooperative when it came to the medical aspects and implications of space flight, which they did not consider to be the right stuff.
"They didn't like being stuck with needles," he said. "They wanted to...fly the damn plane," he said.
In 1982 he was honored as a Master in the American College of Physicians, an unusual honor. The ACP awards mastership "in recognition of exceedingly stellar career accomplishments and...a notable contribution to medicine."
Dr. Jensen was proudest of his work to improve programs to train medical students and new doctors at institutions including Ohio State University, George Washington University and the Albany Medical College.
Dr. Jensen also recognized excellent care and during the last year of his life he often said how impressed he was with the expertise and thoughtfulness of Alain Labens, Darleen Ross and other members of the North Country Home Health Agency hospice.
He also helped prepare questions for the national exams doctors take to prove their competency, serving as a member of the executive committee of the American Board of Internal Medicine from 1974 to 1978.
He also wrote or co-authored dozens of articles for medical publications ranging from basic science to clinical observations.
Other posts included being the chairman of the Department of Medicine at George Washington University from 1969 to 1976 and was chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Albany Medical College in New York from 1976-81.
He is survived by his wife, Phoebe, a daughter, Johanna McInerney of New York City and sons Dr. Jonathan E. Jensen of Longmont, Colo. and Christopher W. Jensen of Lakewood, Ohio. He also has five grandchildren.
At Dr. Jensen's request no services were to be held. In lieu of flowers the family asked contributions be sent to the North Country Home Health Agency, 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, 03561.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service. To view an online memorial, send a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.pillsburyfh.com
BETHLEHEM - Dr. Wallace N. Jensen, a nationally known educator and hematologist who consulted in the first days of the space program and did some of the earliest work on sickle-cell anemia died March 13th in Bethlehem.
Most recently Dr. Jensen, 81, had been a professor and chief of the department of medicine at the New York Medical College at the Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York. He retired in 1996.
Dr. Jensen moved to Bethlehem after his retirement, but for decades he and his family had visited relatives living in Bethlehem.
Born in Utah, Dr. Jensen got his medical degree from the University of Utah in 1945, followed by an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He then served in the U.S. Army. He later worked with some of the most prestigious figures in hematology, the study of the blood.
He was among the earliest researchers into sickle cell anemia, a disease of the red-blood cell that often afflicts African Americans. In the early 1970's he was honored during a ceremony in Philadelphia by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his work.
As America's space program accelerated in 1967 Dr. Jensen was asked to help investigate how space flight affected an astronaut's blood chemistry and he became a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Space Medicine Medical Advisory Council.
He told his children how the first astronauts were neither particularly interested nor cooperative when it came to the medical aspects and implications of space flight, which they did not consider to be the right stuff.
"They didn't like being stuck with needles," he said. "They wanted to...fly the damn plane," he said.
In 1982 he was honored as a Master in the American College of Physicians, an unusual honor. The ACP awards mastership "in recognition of exceedingly stellar career accomplishments and...a notable contribution to medicine."
Dr. Jensen was proudest of his work to improve programs to train medical students and new doctors at institutions including Ohio State University, George Washington University and the Albany Medical College.
Dr. Jensen also recognized excellent care and during the last year of his life he often said how impressed he was with the expertise and thoughtfulness of Alain Labens, Darleen Ross and other members of the North Country Home Health Agency hospice.
He also helped prepare questions for the national exams doctors take to prove their competency, serving as a member of the executive committee of the American Board of Internal Medicine from 1974 to 1978.
He also wrote or co-authored dozens of articles for medical publications ranging from basic science to clinical observations.
Other posts included being the chairman of the Department of Medicine at George Washington University from 1969 to 1976 and was chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Albany Medical College in New York from 1976-81.
He is survived by his wife, Phoebe, a daughter, Johanna McInerney of New York City and sons Dr. Jonathan E. Jensen of Longmont, Colo. and Christopher W. Jensen of Lakewood, Ohio. He also has five grandchildren.
At Dr. Jensen's request no services were to be held. In lieu of flowers the family asked contributions be sent to the North Country Home Health Agency, 536 Cottage Street, Littleton, 03561.
Arrangements and care have been entrusted to the Pillsbury Funeral Homes and Cremation Service. To view an online memorial, send a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.pillsburyfh.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wallace N. Jensen, please visit our flower store.
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