Matt Jensen: Dedicated practitioner

Dedicated practitioner

Matt Jensen, newly appointed physician assistant at Garden State Pain Control,

discusses his team approach and commitment to outstanding patient care

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 50 million Americans — up to some 30% to 40% of all adults — struggle with chronic pain of some kind.

It’s a reality that Matt Jensen, physician assistant at Garden State Pain Control — an over 25-year-old practice with locations in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and Paramus that provides compassionate and comprehensive pain management to people struggling with acute and chronic pain — hopes to help address, one patient at a time. Jensen, who started his career as a PA at Garden State Pain Control in August, is an empathetic professional dedicated to bringing relief to patients through the broad range of safe and minimally-invasive pain management options currently available in the field.

Jensen understands the challenges that injuries and chronic pain can cause more than some would know. Growing up in Oakland, “I played basketball and baseball as a teen and sustained a number of injuries, including a broken ankle and stress fractures in my lower back, so I was on the patient side of the health care relationship,” said Jensen, who eventually underwent successful surgery on his ankle. “I got introduced to the field of medicine, orthopedic surgery and pain management during that time and have so much respect for the practice and its practitioners, because I saw that you can get injured but then recover and be back to full functionality under the supervision of skilled doctors and physical therapists.”

Since graduating from The College of New Jersey in 2018 with a degree in Health and Exercise Science and the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, Long Island in May with an MS in Physician Assistant Studies, Jensen is using his positive past experience as a patient to inform his approach to his own patients. “I had a great experience and got excellent care,” he said. “Similarly, I want to put my patients first and provide the best care possible.”

In his role as a PA at Garden State Pain Control, a practice whose style, approach and philosophy toward patient care was fully in sync with his own, “I’ll be helping to diagnose, treat and oversee patients under the supervising physician,” said Jensen, who will rotate between the practice’s Clifton, Jersey City and Edison offices. “Medicine is a team effort and I’ll be collaborating with the supervising physician on the best treatment plan for each patient; we’re in constant conversation about those in our care.”

According to Jensen, “we see a mix of patients of different ages at our various offices, from people dealing with meniscal knee issues or ACL injuries to those struggling with moderate-to-severe arthritis and more,” he said. “If certain patients fail conservative treatment (such as appropriate healing time and physical therapy), they may qualify for minimally invasive cortisone or gel injections, and if these don’t work, surgery remains an option and we provide that as well; our Dr. Deepan Patel, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician, would perform that procedure and I’d be first assistant in the surgery,” he said. While Jensen’s specialty is sports medicine, “We’re one group at the end of the day and I’m happy to support any of our other physicians and pain management specialists as needed,” he confirmed.

A Partner in Pain Management

When he’s not caring for patients, Jensen remains an avid sportsman. “I enjoy playing basketball with my friends and working out, and I’m also getting married this fall, so I spend a lot of time with my fiancée,” he said.

While he acknowledges that the pandemic introduced unique challenges for those in the health care field, Jensen said that it only strengthened his resolve to help others as a frontline medical professional. “Going on rotations during the pandemic was definitely different and challenging, but if anything, it enhanced the depth of our experience based on the tremendous influx of patients,” he recalled. “Even as students, we were needed and able to make meaningful contributions.”

Since joining Garden State Pain Control, Jensen feels positive about his choice of career and practice and is excited for the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of his patients. “Garden State Pain Control is a wonderful, caring and compassionate environment comprised of a team of experienced professionals who truly feel like family,” he said. “We’re all dedicated to providing the very best and most personalized care we can offer to any patient who walks through the door.”

For those struggling with chronic pain, Jensen confirmed that welcome relief is possible. “There are so many safe, effective, and minimally-invasive options that can help reduce or eliminate pain and significantly improve quality of life, and Garden State Pain Control is here to help,” he concluded.

For More Information:

With convenient locations in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and Paramus, Garden State Pain Control has been providing compassionate and comprehensive pain management to people struggling with acute and chronic pain since 1994. For more information, visit gardenstatepain.com. 

— By Susan Bloom