According to Taylor Jensen, MS, MMS PA-C, Pride Month “serves to recognize the local, national, and international impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history.” He shares:
“The Stonewall uprising sparked the creation of changes in LGBTQ+ individuals’ lives. These protests not only affected political change, but also sparked a cultural shift in the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals, giving them voice and a space to be seen and honored as individuals worthy of freedoms and care all humans deserve. The first Pride march in NYC was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Over time, what started as Pride Day on the last Sunday in June has grown to an entire month-long series of events. Present day celebrations can include a wide array of events including memorials to honor those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS.”
Taylor Jensen (he/him/his) grew up in Greensboro, NC, where he attended Southeast Guilford High School. He completed his undergraduate Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at Appalachian State University, graduating in 2012. Taylor then went to North Carolina State University, where he completed his Master of Science in Physiology in 2016. During this time, he was exposed to PAs during his patient care experiences in urgent care, ophthalmology, and clinical research. Taylor became inspired to attend PA school after “seeing the quality of training and diversity of experiences that PAs could take on.” He attended the Wake Forest University PA Program, completing his didactic year on the Boone campus and graduating in 2018.
Upon becoming a PA, Taylor worked in Orthopaedic Trauma at Mission Health in Asheville for several years. He has continued working in orthopedics in his current role at AppOrtho in Boone, where he works part-time specializing in general orthopedics and sports medicine. Beyond his clinical practice, Taylor is also employed as full-time faculty with the Wake Forest PA program, where he was awarded the Boone Preclinical Year Teaching Excellence award this year, in May of 2022. Through his teaching, he enjoys “collaborating with PA students and fostering their development into resilient and compassionate providers” with special interest in “professional identity formation, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and health equity.”
Taylor loves “having the opportunity to serve communities in Western North Carolina through the extension of collaborative quality care within a dynamic healthcare team and make meaningful connections with patients and their families.” He currently lives in Boone with his husband of six years, who is also an Appalachian State alumni, and enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and gardening.
