Dean's Update 2025-6

You aren’t in the wrong place; this is the monthly Dean’s Update, but this month you are seeing a different face here. I’ve given some space to Dr. Katherine “Katie” Ruger, MSUCOM’s senior associate dean for Strategic Initiatives and executive chief of staff, who at the end of this month, will move with her family to Connecticut for their next family adventure. Dr. Ruger will be transitioning from her role with MSUCOM, but will remain involved with the university’s One Team, One Health initiative, which is good news for our college and the university.

We are excited for Dr. Ruger and her family, but also sad to say goodbye. It’s difficult to say farewell to someone who has had such an impact on this college and its people, and such an impact on myself as we worked closely together the past 16 months. And, like many of you, I’m only going to say, “see you soon.” And, I also want to thank you, Dr. Ruger, for your support, wisdom, kindness, tenacity and dedication to the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. You will be missed! We are all here cheering you on as you move forward.

I hope everyone will take the time to read this month’s Dean’s Update from Dr. Ruger and wish her well.

Warm regards,

Joyce deJong, D.O.
Dean, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine

Gratitude and Greatness Ahead

Dear MSUCOM Community,

As the summer begins to unfold, I find myself both reflecting and looking ahead with gratitude and genuine excitement for all that is in store for this extraordinary place.

After 16-plus years at MSUCOM, I’ll be stepping away in the coming weeks as my family and I relocate to Connecticut. It’s a bittersweet moment – but one that fills me with pride. Because what we’ve built here is not dependent on any one person. It’s rooted in the strength of our faculty, staff, and students, who continue to drive the mission of osteopathic medicine forward every single day.

To our faculty: You are the soul of our academic enterprise. Your intellect, your mentorship and your dedication to student success have shaped generations of osteopathic physicians. You’ve adapted through change, taught through challenge and inspired through example. Watching your creativity and commitment in action has been one of the great privileges of my career.

To our staff: You are the heartbeat of this college. You keep our systems running, our students supported and our teams connected. You do the quiet, critical work that makes everything else possible. Your professionalism, resilience and care have sustained this college through moments of transformation, and I am endlessly grateful for your partnership and friendship.

To our students: You’ve been my inspiration from the very beginning. Your curiosity, compassion and courage remind me why this work matters. You represent the future of medicine and if the future looks anything like you, we are in excellent hands. You’ve navigated uncertainty with strength, found your voice and stepped into leadership in ways that give me hope, not just for healthcare, but for the world.

I also want to express my appreciation to Dean Joyce deJong for the opportunity to write this month’s update. Her leadership has brought clarity, focus and a renewed sense of purpose to MSUCOM. From strengthening clinical partnerships to advocating for academic excellence and supporting our people, Dean deJong has helped us on a path forward that is bold, student-centered and grounded in the values that make this college great. It has been a privilege to support her vision and to work alongside her during this meaningful time of transition and growth.

MSUCOM is entering a new chapter, and I have every confidence it will be an extraordinary one. The foundation we’ve laid together is strong: a shared commitment to inclusive excellence, whole-person care and transformational leadership. From new clinical partnerships and curricular development initiatives to our ongoing work around student wellness and curriculum innovation, this college is poised to lead boldly into what’s next.

One of the efforts I’m especially proud to have helped shape is our role in MSU’s One Team, One Health initiative, which is an ambitious, university-wide effort to better integrate human, animal and environmental health. MSUCOM has been at the forefront of this work, and I believe our college’s focus on collaboration, community engagement and whole-person care makes us a natural leader in this space. I can’t wait to see how our faculty, staff and students continue to contribute to this important effort and shape what “One Health” looks like in action.

Though I will no longer be here in person, please know that I carry this community, and all that we’ve built together, with me. The lessons I’ve learned at MSUCOM, the relationships I’ve formed and the vision we’ve shared will continue to shape me in every chapter to come.

One Final Invitation

As I step away from MSUCOM, I was incredibly honored to learn that the college has established the Katherine M. Ruger Leadership Development Fund, a lasting investment in the people and potential that make this place so special. The fund will support leadership development for medical students, staff, faculty and clinicians across the college, because I truly believe that leadership is for everyone and that great leadership can transform medicine.

Rob and I will continue to support the fund personally. And, if this mission resonates with you, I invite you to consider contributing – so that future leaders at MSUCOM have the tools, training and encouragement they need to thrive.

Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside you. Thank you for believing in what’s possible. And thank you, most of all, for the honor of serving this remarkable community.

Here’s to the future of osteopathic medicine at MSU – bright, bold and powered by people like you.

Go green!

Katherine M. Ruger
Senior Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives
Executive Chief of Staff
Associate Professor, Psychiatry