Dean's Update 2025-10
Seasons of Change, Service and Celebration
Fall has arrived across Michigan, and with it comes that unmistakable spark on every Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) campus — from East Lansing to Detroit to Macomb. The air feels a little crisper, the trees a little brighter and the classrooms a lot livelier. This time of year always brings a sense of renewal — new ideas, new collaborations and the steady rhythm of learning that defines who we are. It’s a good moment to pause, look around and appreciate just how much is happening across our college and our communities.
Honoring Our Physician Assistants and the Future of Team-Based Care
Each October, we celebrate National Physician Assistant Week (October 6–12), and this year we’re especially proud of the incredible momentum in our PA Medicine Program. Our PA students and faculty exemplify MSUCOM’s mission — training professionals who care deeply for people, communities and the environments that shape health.
From day one, the program has attracted students who are passionate about service, access and teamwork. Many come from Michigan’s rural and underserved areas, returning home to fill critical gaps in care. Our faculty are nationally recognized educators who bring both clinical excellence and heart to their teaching. Together, they model the kind of interprofessional collaboration that defines the modern health care landscape — where physicians, PAs, nurses and public health professionals learn with, from and about each other.
Our PA Medicine graduates are already making their mark across the state — in emergency rooms, family medicine practices and community clinics. Their dedication reflects what makes MSUCOM unique: a commitment not just to treating illness, but to building healthier lives and stronger communities.
Land-Grant Roots, Statewide Reach
Being part of a land-grant university means our responsibility doesn’t stop at the campus boundary — it extends to every county in Michigan. We are educators, clinicians, researchers and problem-solvers who apply our expertise wherever it’s needed most.
This year, that mission has taken a particularly meaningful turn. Drawing from my background as a forensic pathologist, MSUCOM has partnered with Kent and Ottawa Counties to strengthen their Medical Examiner systems. Together, we’re developing a regional model that enhances death investigation capacity and provides advanced education and consultation resources for other counties across the state.
Why does this matter? Because a strong, modern medical examiner system does more than determine causes of death — it informs public health, supports justice and helps communities respond to emerging threats. It’s a perfect example of MSU’s land-grant purpose in action: using science and service to make Michigan safer, healthier and better prepared for the future.
One Team, One Health — and the Enduring Strength of Osteopathic Medicine
Across Michigan State University, the One Team, One Health (OTOH) process continues to evolve with energy and optimism. Leaders across the health colleges are actively sharing ideas, gathering feedback and exploring creative ways to strengthen collaboration in education, research and clinical care. These conversations are thoughtful and forward-looking — and they underscore something that has always defined us: MSU’s strength comes from our ability to work together while honoring what makes each part of the whole distinctive.
For the College of Osteopathic Medicine, that distinction is clear and powerful. Osteopathic medicine is — and will always be — a cornerstone of medical education at Michigan State University. Our approach to care — treating the whole person, integrating body, mind and spirit, and understanding health through relationships and environments — has never been more relevant.
When MSUCOM earned its NIH Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) designation earlier this year — the first osteopathic college in the nation to do so — President Kevin M. Guskiewicz captured that importance perfectly: “Osteopathic medicine is a cornerstone of Michigan State University’s commitment to advancing health and healing in Michigan and beyond. The inclusion of our D.O.-Ph.D. students in the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program reflects not only the excellence of their dual training, but also MSU’s leadership in reimagining the future of medical education and biomedical discovery. This achievement underscores the national value of osteopathic medicine — and MSU’s role in shaping it.”
Whatever shape the future takes — through OTOH or other collaborative efforts — one thing is certain: MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine will continue to lead with integrity, compassion and purpose. We will remain a vital part of MSU’s identity and an essential force in preparing the next generation of physicians and health professionals for Michigan and the world.
Looking Ahead
As we head into the second half of the semester, I want to thank each of you — students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners — for your continued dedication to our mission. This season reminds us that change can be both beautiful and productive, especially when we’re working toward a shared vision.
From autumn leaves on campus to innovation across the state, there’s a lot to celebrate at MSUCOM — and even more to look forward to.
I also love hearing from our Spartan community — whether it’s ideas, kudos or complaints (preferably delivered with kindness). Your feedback keeps us grounded, creative and connected.
Joyce deJong, DO
Dean, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
To serve. To inspire. To strengthen — with tenacity.