Dean’s Update 2024-04
April News and Notes from the Dean’s Desk
Recognizing Osteopathic Medicine and D.O. Physicians, Physician-Scientists and Medical Students for Bringing Science and Care Together for the Betterment of All
As we celebrate osteopathic medicine in April, recognizing the profession during National Osteopathic Medicine Week, April 15-21, I want to first express my gratitude to all Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) who serve people and communities from rural areas to urban centers, with everyday medical care needs, care during medical emergencies and urgencies, and through research and teaching. You and your service are greatly appreciated.
Students at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine learn and practice the tenets of osteopathic medicine, focusing on the whole person for the preservation of health and treatment of disease. This approach to care and medicine continues to invite interest as we see the profession and interest in osteopathic medical school growing. In fact, as you are likely aware, 25% of all medical students are osteopathic medical students.
We know the positive impact a D.O. has on medical care across the world and here in our own state of Michigan. That’s why we’re proud to continue our tradition of graduating top physicians and keeping many of those physicians in the mitten state to serve our people and communities.
Recognition for Health Sciences Leadership
Before I get into the highlights, I would like to take a moment to recognize Dr. Norman J. Beauchamp Jr., executive vice president for Health Sciences at MSU. He has been named the executive vice president for Health Sciences and executive dean for the School of Medicine at Georgetown University, effective July 1. Dr. Beauchamp is an alumnus and former dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine.
I have been grateful to Dr. Beauchamp for his support since I joined the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine as dean in February, and for his recognition of our college’s positive impact on the osteopathic medical profession. We wish Dr. Beauchamp well and success in his new endeavor.
As we look to the future, we know changes are ahead and we embrace positive change in our college and in health care. And we embrace the tenets of osteopathic medicine and those who bring them to patients and communities – always for the betterment of all.
Adding to D.O. Numbers
On April 25, we celebrated with our Class of 2024 D.O. and D.O.-Ph.D. graduates, bringing the college’s total of graduates to nearly 7,900. The members of this year’s class were matched into 21 specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN), pediatrics, neurology and psychiatry. Nearly half of the class – 46% – chose family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics, helping to fill the need for primary care physicians felt across the country and in Michigan.
The college has worked to help fill those needs. In fact, 76% of the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Class of 2024 are staying in Michigan to do their residencies. As you may know, where physicians serve in residency highly correlates with where they will practice medicine. Historically, about 75% of our graduates stay in Michigan.
Additional College Impact
Our own Terrie Taylor, D.O., University Distinguished Professor and Foundation Professor at the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, was the lone recipient of the 2024 Community Engagement Scholarship Lifetime Achievement Award at the MSU Outreach and Engagement Awards Ceremony, which “recognizes senior faculty members of outstanding and sustained accomplishment in community-engaged scholarship through research, creative activity, teaching, and/or service and practice over the span of a career.”
Congratulations to Dr. Taylor for this well-deserved recognition!
As part of our storytelling this month, we also shared an article with Jake Rowan, D.O., an associate professor in the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), who discussed osteopathic medicine and its holistic approach to care.
In addition, we announced Robert G. Piccinini, D.O., D.FACN, the recipient of the 2024 Walter F. Patenge Medal of Public Service Award, the college’s highest honor and named for Walter F. Patenge, the first president of the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board.
With all this going on, we still had time for the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine to host its second annual Research Day April 11, in which medical students, residents and future scientists from across the state shared oral and poster presentations. Congratulations to all the winners!
I also want to celebrate MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine alumna Kathleen Rollinger, D.O., FACOFP, for being recognized as the 2024 Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Congratulations, Dr. Rollinger!
It’s been an incredible month full of celebrations and milestones. Thank you to all our osteopathic physicians for all you do.
Warm regards,
Joyce deJong, D.O.
Dean