Doezema, Edward R. (1918-2012) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Doctor Edward Riner Doezema was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 21, 1918. Son of Riner and Rika Doezema, he was brought up in a Dutch immigrant community and taught the Reformed Christian faith. Growing up he worked at the Doezema furniture company, his family’s business. He enrolled at Calvin College and graduated in 1940. Although having a strong passion of music, Doezema felt the call to pursue a medical career. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1943.

In 1945, he became a medical officer in the US Navy. After the bombing of Japan, he was reassigned to Sampson Naval Hospital near Rochester, New York. While in Rochester, he met his bride-to-be, Elizabeth Dean, also a naval officer. They were discharged in 1946 and married in 1947. Also in 1947, Doezema began his residency in Pediatrics at the University of Rochester and becoming chief resident a year later. Doezema began a fellowship at the University of Chicago in Pediatric Hematology and then followed by his practice of Pediatrics in Kalamazoo, Michigan (1950-1965). From 1952 to 1953, Doezema once again served his country in the Korean War.

After his service and a trip to Uganda, Doezema decided to study international child health, which lead to him earning his master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Michigan in 1965. At the University of Michigan, he became an Assistant Professor of Maternal and Child Health from 1966 to 1972. Eventually he took a four-year residency in Psychiatry at the University of Michigan. From there he practiced General Psychiatry from 1978 until 1999.

Doctor Edward Riner Doezema passed away in 2012.