AAPLOG pioneer Dr. Joseph DeCook, whose legacy lives on through AAPLOG’s medical student and resident scholarships, passed away on January 31, 2026, and was memorialized late last week in Michigan. While his loss is deeply felt by his children, grandchildren, and 17 great‑grandchildren—and follows the passing of his beloved wife of 66 years, Joyce DeCook—his influence reaches far beyond his family. Dr. DeCook’s impact on life‑affirming healthcare professionals, AAPLOG staff, and hundreds of medical students will endure for generations.
Dr. DeCook was described by CEO Emeritus Dr. Donna Harrison as “brilliant, well-trained, an out‑of‑the‑box thinker, fearlessly willing to do whatever he was called to do and deeply committed to his Lord.” Under his leadership, AAPLOG was transformed from a special‑interest group within ACOG that met twice a year into a bold, independent organization unafraid to speak truth to power.
He instilled in AAPLOG a spirit of courage, launching the organization’s response to growing calls for physicians to engage in the public policy arena. He also prioritized educating fellow physicians, establishing what was then a mailed member update newsletter to connect and inform colleagues across the country. Most importantly, Dr. DeCook was passionately committed to medical students. He worked tirelessly—often cutting other areas of the AAPLOG budget—to ensure that every student who wanted to learn how to care for both mothers and their preborn children could attend the annual conference. There, students could see how obstetrics and gynecology were meant to be practiced and learn alongside true giants in the field. This unwavering dedication is why AAPLOG’s conference scholarships proudly bear his name to this day. Dr. DeCook also played a critical role in developing AAPLOG’s evidence‑based, life‑affirming clinical guidelines, which remain an invaluable resource.
In 2013, in his 70s, Joe stepped down from AAPLOG leadership to devote himself to two lifelong commitments: caring for his beloved wife Joyce after her breast cancer diagnosis and continuing his support for the people of Bangladesh, whom he deeply loved.
“I first met Joe about 40 years ago when he took time away from his full‑time OB/GYN practice to speak to the CMDA student group at the University of Michigan,” recalled Dr. Harrison. “My favorite Joe DeCook story was when he spoke about his missionary work in Bangladesh and his most unusual OB/GYN challenge: delivering a large water buffalo in obstructed labor that resulted in a complete uterine prolapse. Undaunted, Joe replaced the uterus and saved both the mother and baby.”
Dr. Joe DeCook will forever remain in the heart and soul of AAPLOG’s mission to provide excellent, compassionate, life‑affirming healthcare to both mother and preborn child.
