The OUWB community might recognize a familiar face — though it will look quite different — among a group of 200 clowns in the 99th America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.
Duane Mezwa, M.D., emeritus dean, OUWB, will serve as Grand Jester for the Distinguished Clown Corps — a nonprofit organization that is part of The Parade Co. and helps raise funds used to produce the event.
Though it will be his first as top clown in the parade, it will be the 28th time Mezwa has made the three-mile Turkey Day trek down Woodward Avenue.
“When you do it once, you get hooked,” he said. “It gets in your blood to see the smiles on the faces of the kids, the happiness of the families, and just the excitement of being part of it all.”
“To be part of that really gives you such a warm feeling and it really marks the beginning of the holiday seasons for us,” he said.
Mezwa at OUWB
Mezwa attended Wayne State University School of Medicine and graduated in 1979. He worked for more than 40 years at Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont Health), where he completed residency. He became an attending radiologist in 1983 and served as program director for 15 years followed by vice chair and eventually Health System Chair and physician executive for Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging.
Mezwa has been involved in OUWB since its inception. He was on the inaugural admissions committee and served as vice chair. He was also on the Deans Executive Committee and previously chaired the Student Performance Review Committee. Mezwa has also represented the clinical faculty to the AAMC as a member of the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.
He was the chair of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging at OUWB until he was appointed Stephan Sharf Interim Dean in February 2019. In November 2020, Mezwa was named OUWB’s second dean and served until he retired about three years later.
During his time as Stephan Sharf Dean, Mezwa led OUWB through the rigorous Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation process, which resulted in the medical school’s reaccreditation for eight years, the maximum amount of time awarded by LCME.
Mezwa was instrumental in Oakland University and Beaumont extending their affiliation agreement through 2041.
He also was key in navigating OUWB through the challenges brought on by COVID-19, working with his administration and health care system partners at Corewell to keep medical students learning in a safe environment and their education on track.
Mezwa also established the Dean’s Advisory Board, which consists of 12 members who have expertise in leadership and a commitment to assisting the school in matters of strategic importance, including community outreach, partnership, and resource development.
Further, he led the formation of the OUWB Golf Outing, which raises funds that are redirected back into student scholarships.
Since retiring, Mezwa has continued working with pre-med and medical students to help them navigate the medical education process. He also has spent plenty of time with family and traveling.
And, of course, there is the annual clowning around he does at Thanksgiving.
‘Extra special’
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| Tony Michaels, CEO, The Parade Co., introduces Mezwa as this year's Grand Jester at a special reception held Sept. 9. |
According to The Parade Company website, the Distinguished Clown Corps “began with business leaders Tom Adams, former chief executive officer of Campbell-Ewald, and Walter McCarthy, former executive officer of Detroit Edison, who served as the spark in creating a way for leadership to become personally involved with The Parade Company.”
The clowns have been part of the parade for more than 40 years.
Mezwa has been among the clowns 27 times before this year after being invited by Greg Raiss, M.D. (Mezwa said he plans to be a clown in the parade at least two more times so he can make it to 30.)
During the fall, several clown-related events lead up to the parade, including the preview party and pancake breakfast. There’s also a special reception to kick off parade season with all veteran clowns and potential new members.
This year, Mezwa led the events, hosting the reception and serving as “VIP flapjacker” at the pancake breakfast. And he’ll welcome everyone during the early morning breakfast held as the clowns get ready on Thanksgiving.
Overall, he said, the role is largely honorary with one primary charge.
“It’s really to make sure everybody has a good time,” he said. “It’s greeting everybody, welcoming everyone, and just making sure everyone has great memories.”
This year will be especially meaningful, too, because Mezwa’s entire family will participate — his wife, Vera, their three grown children, Alaina, Christina, and Katie, and their husbands. It will mark the first time all eight family members have participated.
“The fact that I’m Grand Jester and having my family there to walk alongside of me makes it extra special,” said Mezwa.
And though being Grand Jester alongside his family helps create those “great memories,” Mezwa said there’s another special moment that he holds near and dear to his heart.
“When we’re done with the parade, we have to walk back to where we started,” he said. “There are always a lot of children who see us still as clowns. For whatever reason, there are some who didn’t get any of the beads we hand out.”
“I always keep a few extra to hand out to those kids,” he said. “And the way their faces light up … it’s just really, really special and reminds me why I do it.”
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [email protected].
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
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