National expert Dr. Kendi Hensel joins select editor group

Kendi Hensel, DO, PhD, is adding two new gems to her string of accomplishments. Already a noted physician, educator, researcher and scholarly reviewer before the age of 40, this summer she became the first female editor of her profession’s pre-eminent journal. And in the fall, her latest research study will hit print in another publication.

She’s not just a hard worker. She appreciates the beautiful things of nature. In rare moments of leisure, she makes jewelry, and her travels have yielded interesting stones. "I like to see the flashes of fire embedded in them when you hold them to the light," she said.

Dr. Hensel will be finding flashes of insight when she begins her newest assignment as one of three associate editors of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. She is the first woman to serve in such a role at oldest journal of her profession, first published in 1901.

"Dr. Hensel is a nationally recognized expert on osteopathic research and literature," said David Mason, DO, Chair of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, where Dr. Hensel is an associate professor. "This honor reflects her accomplishments and shines well upon TCOM as leading our profession."

Her study of the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment to ease back pain in pregnancy is scheduled for publication in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She also has served as principal investigator or co-investigator of research projects on the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment of pain in elderly pneumonia patients. 

She moves busily among her stations teaching medical students on the UNTHSC campus and treating patients at the Patient Care Clinic and also at Plaza and Harris hospitals, and somehow finds time for research and editing.

"Like a lot of people, I struggle with time management and keeping a reasonable balance in life," she said. "I think the key is trying to tackle one task at a time, and focus on it, without getting overwhelmed at everything else that’s on the list."

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