In this episode of Dean’s Chat, Drs. Jensen and Richey interview Dr. David Jenkins from Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Jenkins is no stranger to the world of Podiatric Medicine having been a past President of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine. He is a long-time faculty member both at the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and at the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine.
We discuss his extensive research, and his remarkable career including involvement in Special Olympics for the past 17 years culminating in his recent visit to Berlin, Germany for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. In Berlin, he was the recipient of the highest honor within Special Olympics, the Global Golisano Health Leadership Award. Join us for a great discussion on individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Dr. David Jenkins has a diverse background in sports medicine, with extensive experience across various levels of athletic competition. His commitment to the field is evident through his work with college athletes, professional athletes, and Special Olympics participants. Notably, Dr. Jenkins provided podiatric care to minor league baseball players at the San Francisco Giants training site and the Los Angeles Dodgers during spring training, where he interacted with renowned athletes like Randy Johnson, Clayton Kershaw, and Matt Kemp.
In addition to his work with professional athletes, Dr. Jenkins has played a pivotal role in the Special Olympics community. He served as a clinical director and later as a global clinical advisor for Fit Feet, a program focused on foot health for Special Olympics athletes. Dr. Jenkins has contributed to various world games, enhancing the health and well-being of athletes with intellectual disabilities. His involvement in research has led to improvements in the Fit Feet program, such as incorporating vascular and neurological assessments based on studies conducted with Special Olympics athletes.
Tune in for an interesting episode covering how podiatry has changed his life with Dr. David Jenkins!