National Primary Care Week (NPCW) is an annual event designed to highlight the importance
of primary care, and to bring together healthcare professionals and students across
the healthcare spectrum to discuss the important role primary care providers play
in the healthcare system.
At PCOM, several student organizations collaborated on a number of events recognizing
NPCW, which occurred October 1-7.
"Primary care is the foundation of value-based quality care in our country,” said
Michael Becker, DO ’87, MS, professor and vice-chair, family medicine. “Having an excellent relationship with
a primary care physician enhances the overall care that a patient receives regardless
if it is delivered by a generalist, specialist, or hospital."
On Monday, October 2, Primary Care Progress held a standardized patient (SP) skills
workshop, led by Peter Bidey, DO ’08, MEd, assistant professor, family medicine, and family medicine residents. The workshop
was designed to teach first- and second-year DO students how to work with SPs. Also,
students in the Student Association of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
(SAACOFP) and Primary Care Progress volunteered at MANNA, a nonprofit in Philadelphia
that delivers nourishment to those battling life-threatening illnesses, as a part
of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians’ national service project.
On Tuesday, the Internal Medicine Club, along with the Medicine Pediatrics Club, the
Robert Berger Pediatric Society, the Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) Club, the
Student American Academy of Osteopathy and Primary Care Progress, held a panel discussion
with several of PCOM’s primary care physicians. The doctors shared their experiences
on the front lines of healthcare.
On Wednesday, students held a bake sale to raise funds for hurricane relief, and the
SAACOFP hosted a panel discussion with several family medicine physicians discussing
various career opportunities in that field.
A bake sale for hurricane relief was also held on Thursday, followed by a session
on how to perform osteopathic manipulative techniques on pediatric patients with Meghna Shah, DO, MPH, assistant professor, osteopathic medicine.
“Primary care is the central hub for all aspects of healthcare,” said Brisha Bhikadiya
(DO ’20), chair of the Student Organizations Council. “These are the physicians that
continuously follow their patient’s lives. They put together lab reports, physical
exam findings, and information from various specialists into actually managing patient
care. To treat one of their patients successfully, they really have to incorporate
various pieces of the puzzle and decide what fits best.”
Roughly 60 percent of PCOM DO graduates go on to practice in primary care. Stormie
Wagner (DO ’20), president of Primary Care Progress, said she was strongly considering
practicing in primary care after graduation. “You are able to do so much more in a
primary care career beyond what society normally portrays,” she said. “For example,
if you go into family medicine, you can then do a fellowship in fields like geriatrics,
psychiatry, sports medicine, emergency medicine and Ob/Gyn.”
About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained
thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral
scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just
symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education,
operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers
graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical
sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling,
physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance
of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its
community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations.
For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Contact Us
Daniel McCunney Associate Director, News and Media Relations Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360