Barbara M. Bates-Jensen has been appointed as the interim dean of the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing, effective Aug. 1, according to an April 22 announcement from Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Darnell Hunt. She will take over leadership as Lin Zhan concludes her tenure on July 31 and is expected to serve through approximately June 30, 2027, or until a new dean is selected.
The appointment comes at a time when the school continues its commitment to academic excellence and leadership in nursing education. The search for the next permanent dean will begin during the upcoming academic year.
Bates-Jensen, who has been part of UCLA’s faculty for nearly 25 years, is recognized internationally for her clinical research in wound care and efforts to address disparities in detecting skin and tissue damage among people of color. “With the mission of ensuring that no patient suffers because of the color of their skin, Dr. Bates-Jensen is a pioneer in the field of detecting medium and dark skin tones for skin damage,” Hunt said in his message.
She collaborated with colleagues in computer science and bioengineering at UCLA to invent a medical device called the SEM Scanner, which measures skin damage before it becomes visible—a tool that received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in late 2019 and is now used globally for early detection of pressure injuries. Bates-Jensen also developed an assessment tool used worldwide for chronic wound evaluation.
Her service includes leading medical missions abroad to improve wound care infrastructure, serving on professional boards since 2008, launching advanced nursing programs at UCLA since becoming associate dean in 2023, and earning recognition such as induction into multiple professional societies.
UCLA itself operates within the University of California system according to its official website. The university has achieved national and international acclaim through accomplishments including Nobel laureates and MacArthur Fellows according to its official website. It features a large campus supporting scholarship across diverse fields according to its official website, fosters inclusive environments through academic programs according to its official website, maintains excellence across arts, athletics, research according to its official website, and counts many notable figures among its affiliates according to its official website.
“Given her longstanding service at UCLA and many contributions to the school and to the field of nursing, Chancellor Frenk and I are confident that Barbara will provide the skill, leadership and continuity necessary to maintain excellence at the School of Nursing,” Hunt said.
