Impactful Leaders Podcast | Academic Medicine Dean Insights: Marjorie Jenkins, M.D.
Accelerating Real Change in Rural Healthcare: Insights from UND’s Marjorie Jenkins, M.D.
Stepping into her dual role as Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota (UND), Dr. Marjorie Jenkins leveraged decades of experience leading in academia, health systems, and the federal government. From founding the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Tech University to serving as Director of Medical Initiatives at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Jenkins has built a career rooted in service, strategy, and equity. Reflecting on her journey, she shares, “I never anticipated I would be in this role… but understanding my strengths and aligning with them has been key to being the best leader for the organization.”
In this episode of our Academic Medicine Dean Insights series, part of WittKieffer’s Impactful Leaders Podcast, Dr. Jenkins speaks with Consultant Kerry Quealy about her influences, inspirations and ideas for the future. Growing up in Appalachia shaped Dr. Jenkins’ deep commitment to rural health and access. That perspective informs her vision for UND, where she leads initiatives to expand residency programs, strengthen partnerships with health systems, and innovate in medical education. “If we aren’t designing systems to think of everyone, and we try a one-size-fits-all model, then that doesn’t serve the people,” she notes. Her leadership emphasizes health equity and workforce readiness, ensuring that UND fulfills its legislative mandate to serve North Dakota and improve the quality of life for its people.
Innovation is central to Dr. Jenkins’ strategy. From launching North Dakota 85 (a program to increase the percentage of in-state healthcare-focused students) to building an AI hub and planning an accelerated track for primary care physicians, she champions real solutions while balancing feasibility and resources. Innovation thrives when leaders empower teams to think boldly and provide the support needed to make ideas sustainable, she believes. “Once you commit to an innovative idea, and you know that it’s needed and necessary to meet your purpose, then you have to resource it,” she explains.
For academic medicine leaders navigating complexity, Dr. Jenkins offers timeless advice: embrace humility, build relationships, and lead with transparency. She credits her mentors for teaching her to think beyond self-interest and focus on the greater good. “The best advice was the advice to think differently—and to think about the whole and the people,” she says.
