J. D Polk DO, MS, MMM, CPE, FACOEP

J.D. Polk is the dean of Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He previously served as the acting assistant secretary for health affairs and chief medical officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He assumed that post after serving as the principal deputy assistant secretary for health affairs and deputy chief medical officer. Before that, Polk was the deputy chief medical officer and chief of space medicine for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center and an assistant professor in the departments of preventive medicine and emergency medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Polk is a member of the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians and an associate fellow in the Aerospace Medicine Association.He is also a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and affiliate associate professor and senior fellow in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University.