Kirk Jensen MD

Education

Fellowship Training: National Capital Region, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship, Class of 2007
Residency Training: Wright-Patterson/Children's Medical Center of Dayton Combined Pediatric Residency, Class of 2003
Internship: Wright-Patterson/Children's Medical Center of Dayton Combined Pediatric Training, Class of 2001
Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Class of 2000
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University, Bachelor of Art (French)/Bachelor of Science (Zoology), Class of 1995

Biography

Originally from Idaho, I attended BYU for undergraduate studies as a French Major (following a 2-year LDS church mission to southern France). I attended and graduated with the USUHS Class of 2000. A Pediatrics Internship/Residency was done at the combined Wright-Patterson/Dayton Children’s Program. I then had the opportunity to be a General Pediatrician at Altus, AFB prior to coming to the National Capital Consortium for Fellowship training in Pediatric Endocrinology. After fellowship, I was a clinician involved in basic benchtop science in thyroid cancer research before being assigned at Langley AFB/Naval Medical Center Portsmouth for 3 years. Another opportunity to be involved in research arose at USUHS and I’ve been involved in ongoing research as well as education of medical students, residents and fellows since 2014.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

USU School of Medicine Pre-Clerkship Module Director, 2019-Present

Faculty, Department of Pediatrics, USUHS, 2007-2011, 2013-Present

Staff Pediatric Endocrinologist, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, 2011-2013

Staff Pediatrician, Altus AFB, 2003-2004

American Thyroid Association Research Committee, 2016-2022 (2, three-year terms)

Chief Consultant for Pediatric Endocrinology to the Air Force Surgeon General, 2010-Present

Co-Chair, Uniformed Services Pediatric Seminar, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2011

Young Investigator Award, International Thyroid Congress, 2010

Ogden Bruton Award, USPS, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007

Representative Bibliography

1. Jensen K, Bikas A, Patel A, Kushchayeva Y, Costello J, McDaniel D, Burman K, Vasko V. Nelfinavir inhibits proliferation and induces DNA damage in thyroid cancer cells. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2017 MAR; 24(3):147-156. doi: 10.1530/ERC-16-0568. Epub 30 JAN 2017. PMID 28137980

2. Bikas A, Vachhani S, Jensen K, Vasko V, Burman KD. Targeted Therapies in thyroid cancer; and extensive review of the literature. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2016 JUL 15:1-15. PMID: 27367142

3. Bikas A, Van Nostrand D, Jensen K, Desale S, Mete M, Patel A, Wartofsky L, Vasko V, Burman K. Metformin Attenuates I131-induced Decrease in Peripheral Blood Cells in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid. 2016 FEB; 26(2): 280-6. doi: 10.1089/thy.2015.0413. Epub 2015 DEC 30. PMID 26649977

4. Bikas A, Jensen K, Patel A, Costello J Jr., Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J, Larin O, Hoperia V, Burman K, Boyle L, Wartofsky L, Vasko V. Glucose-deprivation increases thyroid cancer cells sensivity to metformin. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2015 DEC; 22(6): 919-32. Doi: 10.1530/ERC-15-0402. Epub 2015 SEP 11. PMID: 26362676

5. Kushcayeva Y, Jensen K, Burman KD, Vasko V. Repositioning therapy for thyroid cancer: new insights on established medication Endocr Relat Cancer. 2014 MAY 6;21(3):R183-94. doi: 10.1530/ERC-13-0473. PMID: 24446492

6. Kushchayeva Y, Jensen K, Recupero A, Costello J, Patel A, Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J, Boyle L, Burman K, Vasko V. The HIV Protease Inhibitor Nelfinavir Down-Regulates RET Signaling and Induces Apoptosis in Medullary Thyroid Cancer Cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 May;99(5):E734-45. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-3369. Epub 2014 Jan 31. PMID: 24483157

7. Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J, Costello J Jr, Patel A, Bauer A, Jensen K, Mete M, Beruman KD, Wartofsky L, Vasko V. Treatment with metformin is associated with higher remission rate in diabetic patients with thyroid cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 AUG; 98(8):3269-79

8. Pinsker JE, McBayne K, Edwards M, Jensen K, Crudo DF, Bauer AJ. Transient hypothyroidism in premature infants after short-term topical iodine exposure: an avoidable risk? Pediatr Neonatol. 2013 Apr;54(2):128-31. doi: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2012.10.005. Epub 2012 Dec 3. PubMed PMID: 23590958.

9. Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J, Jensen K, Bauer A, Patel A, Costello J, Burman K, Hardwick M, Vasko V. The expression of translocator protein in human thyroid cancer and its role in the response of thyroid cancer cells to oxidative stress. J Endocrinol. 2012 AUG; 214(2):207-16

10. Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J, Jensen K, Costello J, Patel A, Hoperia V, Bauer A, Burman KD, Wartofsky L, Vasko V. Metformin inhibits growth and decreases resistance to anoikis in medullary thyroid cancer cells. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2012 MAY 24; 19(3):447-56