Dean’s Update 2024-09
September News and Notes from the Dean’s Desk
Every day I serve as dean of this college, I am not only amazed but deeply grateful. Grateful for the leadership team, faculty and staff who work tirelessly for the greater good of our students and communities. Grateful for our alumni, who are out in the world, caring for patients and serving communities, and who remain committed to supporting our students and the college. And grateful for our students, who don’t wait for their careers to officially start to begin their impactful work in health care. This collective dedication drives me to lead and reminds me why I returned to the Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine—to be part of this continued mission to positively shape our world.
While there is much more to do, let’s take a moment to celebrate what we’ve already accomplished as we prepare for the work ahead.
Health Sciences
I want to update you on the progress made by the Health Sciences Council. As a reminder, the council was convened under the Office of the President to foster collaboration on curriculum, interprofessional education and clinical care and to develop strategies to enhance our biomedical and public health research efforts.
As co-chair of this council, I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s to come. So far, we’ve held several meetings where we’ve assessed our strengths, challenges and opportunities. We are now focusing on refining our strategic priorities, particularly around sustainable health and research pillars. We’re on track to meet our December deadline for recommendations, and I’m confident our efforts will lead to positive changes for the future of Health Sciences at MSU. As we move forward, President Guskiewicz will continue to provide updates to the community.
DEI Retreat
Another important upcoming event is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Retreat, scheduled for Sept. 27. Thank you to the DEI committee’s leadership team, especially Amara Ezeamama, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the DEIC chair, and Anissa Mattison, D.O., FACOOG, associate dean of the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) site, as co-chair, along with Marita Gilbert, Ph.D., associate dean for Diversity and Campus Inclusion. A special shout out to Debalina Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and director of operations at DMC, and Chinyere Tobias, M.A., advisor at DMC, for their work and support.
The retreat will bring together faculty, staff and students to engage in meaningful discussions and develop strategies to strengthen our DEI efforts within the college. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on where we are, where we want to go and how we can ensure that our commitment to inclusivity is embedded in everything we do—from curriculum development to community engagement. I look forward to the valuable insights and ideas that will emerge from this retreat and encourage everyone to participate in this ongoing journey of growth and understanding.
Recognition
In celebration of Healthcare Simulation Week, we had the opportunity to highlight the incredible work happening at our Learning and Assessment Center (LAC). This center provides our osteopathic medical students and Physician Assistant (PA) Program students with invaluable hands-on experience, applying classroom knowledge to real-world settings.
A special shout out to Mary Kay Smith, Ph.D., RN, CHSE, FSSH, who serves as an associate professor and the executive director of the MSU LAC. Dr. Smith is also the only Distinguished Fellow in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in Michigan. With her leadership and support, our students gain practical experience in clinical simulations that prepare them for their future careers.
Additionally, I want to recognize Terrie E. Taylor, D.O., University Distinguished Professor and MSU
Congratulations, Dr. Taylor, on this well-deserved honor!
Alumni Weekend
In addition to our academic and clinical work, we recently enjoyed time with several of our alumni during MSUCOM’s Alumni Weekend, held from September 12-14. We gathered for the annual Scholarship Dinner to honor donors and recognize our scholarship recipients. We also had the chance to connect at a golf 
We didn’t only have fun, but some of the time was spent working – we had alumni join the Fall Kaleidoscope | Virtual Edition continuing medical education (CME) program offered by our own Statewide Campus System. More than 100 people virtually attended from across the country. Shout out to our alumni, Sarah Strong, D.O., FACOOG, and Kimberly Turke, D.O., FACOI, who served on the Conference Planning Committee; and Julie Kehdi, D.O., and Amy Blaising-Wallace, D.O., who were among our seven speakers.
It was a beautiful weekend filled with camaraderie and celebration. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and I look forward to even more alumni participating next year.
Continuing Work
As we look to the future, I want to remind everyone that our work on the Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation (MOCF) endowment continues. Led by Kimberly LaMacchia, director of Special Programs and Initiatives, this effort remains focused on supporting our medical students on their journey to becoming Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s).
Thank you to all who have contributed to the MOCF throughout the years. If you’d like to learn more about this important initiative or explore ways to get involved, please visit the MOCF page.
Thank you all for your dedication to the college and to our community. Together, we continue to make a difference.
Go Green!
With warmest regards,
Joyce deJong, D.O.
Dean, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine