Allison Campbell Jensen

Word of mouth—everyone knows this is public relations’ most powerful tool. Executing this simple concept to promote the U of Minnesota Stem Cell Institute, however, was somewhat complicated. Working with the Academic Health Center communications team, I organized U scientists and physicians for an educational forum to take place over a few weeks. A group of influential people were contacted and enough agreed to come that the effort would likely be worthwhile. Indeed, it was. Surveying the participants after the presentations showed they understood more about stem cell science than previously. They were more excited about its potential to improve health. They would be better prepared to talk with friends and colleagues.

I also wrote a Stem Cell Institute brochure. (Follow link and click on last item.)

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Interviewing more than 30 people, ages 9 to 90, digging through scrapbooks of newspaper clippings and photos, and delving into historical papers led to Croixdale: A Community Treasure. I started the research and interviews about this Bayport senior community in March and in December 2010, this book was published to mark its 50th anniversary in 2011. Here’s a snippet from the chapter Daily Gladness:
“Wii games could hardly have been imagined in 1961, when one newspaper trumpeted the original residence’s opening with this headline: ‘Oldsters Have Plush Haven and Few Worries at New Croixdale.’ They also had plenty of activities: crafts, coffee hours and game parties with prizes.

“From the start, Croixdale not only provided meals and personal care, but also the daily gladness of companionship for the lively people who made it their home. A few months after Croixdale officially opened in September 1961, the residents created their XYZ Club: its initials stood for ‘Extra Years of Zest.'”

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Always something new—that made working for the University of Minnesota Medical School exciting. “The New Face of Surgery” was suggested for the 2008 Dean’s Report by then-Dean Deborah Powell. The story arose from the recognition that, at Minnesota, women were making inroads into this long-time male preserve in medicine. This is my lead:

“Questions arise when women choose surgery.

“Out in the world, they actually have heard these questions from patients, colleagues, and advisors:
‘So when is the doctor coming in?’
‘Who did you sleep with to get that paper published?’
‘You know, don’t you, that not a lot of women go into cardiovascular surgery?’

“Among their peers and inside themselves, they may ask: Can one balance the demanding work life of a surgeon with a family life? Will one be valued as a colleague, with the same status and salary? Would surgery change women or women change surgery?

“But ask woman surgeons at Minnesota the question ‘Why surgery?’ and they answer, with slight variations, the same way. They are passionate about their profession.”

This feature and the entire 2008 Dean’s Report are available here. 

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Reporters from WCCO-TV, WCCO Radio, the Minnesota Daily, and me, representing Minnesota Magazine—lined up outside the conference room. Each of us wanted a piece of Katie Couric when she arrived April 24, 2010. She was scheduled to speak that evening to the University of Minnesota Alumni Association annual meeting but each of us hoped to get something special or personal or interesting from Couric, anchor of the CBS Evening News. And she delivered. “Sometimes I’ll read things in The New Yorker or Newsweek or Time or the Times and think, damn, they’re such good writers.” And, damn, she was a charming and quotable interview subject.

From “Meet the Anchor.”

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In an elevator today, I saw a man who at first looked only familiar but then clicked into focus as my J-School teacher Bill H. He, too, recognized me, and we talked about the books we’ve written (one each) and the plans we have for this new year of 2011. He’s exploring possible retirement and I’m launching this blog. Best of luck to both of us!

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