Dr. Joseph A. Jackson, Jr. is Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Student Affairs. He serves as an Advisory Dean for the MD Program and Associate Professor in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics. He was raised in Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Medical Degree from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA. He completed his Pediatric training at Duke University Medical Center and started his faculty appointment at Duke in 2007.
Dr. Jackson is an exceptional education leader working with learners across the Health Professions Programs at Duke. He brings a track record of excellence focused on innovative longitudinal learning curricula. He served as founding Associate Director for the Primary Care Leadership Track program helping to establish Duke’s first Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship for students interested in Primary Care. He also served on the Executive Committee of the School of Medicine Master of Biomedical Sciences Program, serving as a founding Associate Director and Academic Advisor. He is an educator at heart and has a passion for establishing evidence based relational learning opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. Given his interest in professional Formation, Dr. Jackson has demonstrated his leadership expertise in various roles including Co Director for a course entitled, Essentials of Health Practice and Professional Development and as Vice Chief of Education focused on faculty development for the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Health.
Dr. Jackson’s scholarly interests are focused on Professional Identity Formation across the health professions training continuum. He is actively engaged in research related to Belonging, Shame and Identity Formation among learners aspiring to and traversing the health professions. As a clinician educator, Dr. Jackson’s curiosities are fueled as he manages the developmental progress of patients and learners over time. He is a strong advocate for his patients and serves as mentor and advisor for learners and colleagues. He was awarded the Duke University School of Medicine Professionalism Award and selected as an Education Scholar for the Academic Pediatric Association, and was inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics.
Described in the Herald Sun Newspaper as a “Father of Five (now six) and Pediatrician of Many,” Dr. Jackson’s greatest passions are stirred as he interacts with his family, his patients, his learners, and colleagues.