Joyce deJong, D.O.

Board Member

MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean

Joyce deJong, D.O., is the dean of the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. In her previous position, she served as a professor and founding chair of the Department of Pathology at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. A seasoned physician, deJong has made lasting contributions to the field of medicine, forensic pathology, and medicolegal death investigation.

deJong's leadership extends beyond academia, as evidenced by her groundbreaking tenure as President of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), where she became the first osteopathic physician to hold this esteemed position. Additionally, her service as a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team underscores her commitment to crisis response and community resilience in the face of mass fatalities.

deJong holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Grand Valley State University and earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed an anatomic pathology residency at Grand Rapids Area Medical Education Consortium/Michigan State University and a forensic pathology fellowship at Emory University and Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.