Office of Campus and Community Partnerships

The Office of Campus and Community Partnerships promotes student development, community health, and workplace excellence. Through strategic initiatives, CCP enhances education, builds community ties, and cultivates a supportive, engaging environment for students and employees alike. CCP aims to advance PCOM’s 2028 strategic plan goal: PCOM prepares students to excel in tomorrow’s healthcare workforce and lead in their chosen professions.

This is achieved by offering professional development opportunities, community outreach, and fostering engagement.

CCP helps students become leaders who can improve health in their communities by building strong, trusting relationships with patients through empathy and advocacy. Capitalizing on the knowledge, expertise, and talent of the CCP team, as well as drawing professionals from both within and outside the PCOM community, CCP offers sessions on timely and relevant topics such as:

• You're not a Fraud, You're Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - Many people who have acquired certain skills, talents and accomplishments have a hard time accepting the fact that they have earned their success. This workshop will allow space for participants to see the value they bring and help them identify ways to better navigate imposter syndrome.
• Meaningful Community Engagement: Best Practices for Ethical Volunteering and Community Impact - Whether you're a student or a PCOM employee, this session will equip you with the tools to create a lasting impact while maintaining ethical engagement throughout your service. Through a series of interactive discussions and practical exercises, you will explore best practices for volunteering and strategies to build meaningful, long-term relationships with community members. This workshop is facilitated in partnership with the Community Wellness Initiative.
• Neurodiversity - This training empowers leaders and teams to recognize, understand, and celebrate the unique strengths of neurodivergent colleagues. Through a blend of expert insights, real‑world examples, and interactive exercises, participants will learn about common neurodivergent profiles. The session also addresses common workplace challenges, from communication preferences to sensory considerations, and equips attendees with practical strategies for fostering an environment of mutual respect and psychological safety.
• Fostering Community at PCOM: This workshop equips attendees with the tools to recognize the values of fostering community. We will also explore strategies and participate in engaging activities that highlight the importance of belonging.

CCP offers a variety of programs and events to address community health priorities and develop stronger partnerships through community-based research and community-based clinical rotations. OCCP partners with PCOM’s Community Wellness Initiative, student clubs, and local organizations to develop opportunities for students to gain valuable experience. Through these efforts, CCP aims to lay the foundation to foster empathetic patient-centered clinicians and practitioners.

In partnership with academic and administrative departments, OCCP contributes to the PCOM 2028 Strategic Plan (1.2: Maximize learning to achieve competency in applicable skills and professionalism in health-related environments).

Offerings include:

• Disability Justice in Medicine - The Disability Justice in Medicine invites participants to explore how healthcare systems can honor the rights, dignity, and autonomy of people with disabilities. Grounded in a strengths‑based, human‑centered approach, the session will unpack the concept of disability justice and examine challenges in medical practice. Through case studies, personal narratives, and interactive discussions, learners identify concrete strategies for creating accessible clinical environments, fostering effective patient communication, and partnering with disability communities to co‑design care.
• Bridging Generations in Healthcare - Bridging Generations in Healthcare introduces students to the varied beliefs and behaviors shaped by generational experiences in healthcare. This lecture integrates the core principles of the American Osteopathic Association—including patient care, interpersonal communication, and professionalism—and prepares students to effectively collaborate with patients and colleagues across generations during clinical rotations and residency. Students will explore strategies to foster empathy, improve communication, and enhance teamwork across age groups.

• Emotional Intelligence - In this lecture, students will understand four critical components of being emotionally intelligent leaders, determine the difference between higher emotionally intelligent leaders and lower emotionally intelligent leaders and review strategies of becoming higher emotionally intelligent leaders
• Rural Health 101 - This lecture on Rural Health Care is designed to immerse future physicians in the realities and rewards of practicing in rural communities, such as those in South Georgia. Drawing on firsthand experience, students are guided through the structure of rural health systems, highlighting the most pressing barriers to care and sharing practical strategies for delivering high-quality medicine in low-resource settings. Students explore the demographics and health trends unique to rural populations, examine innovative models, such as telehealth and mobile clinics, that are expanding access, and outline clear pathways for students who wish to build their careers in these underserved areas.

The CCP recognizes that maintaining mental and emotional health supports students' ability to thrive academically and professionally. We partner with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Admissions to offer programs that foster resilience and provide a healthy and supportive environment for success.

The Office of Campus and Community Partnerships strives to create a healthy environment where all faculty and staff are more productive, collaborative, and committed to advancing PCOM’s mission. Our goal is to encourage a positive culture that drives engagement, increases employee retention, and improves performance.

Our focus areas include:

Effective Leadership

Our Lead the Change initiative offers a professional development certificate that aims to build cross-campus connections, collaborative problem-solving, and grow collective leadership capacity. Employees are afforded the space to pause and reflect on the benefits and impact of effective leadership in the workplace.

Employee Engagement

Cultivating Community at PCOM Certificate Program offers professional development opportunities for employees. This program emphasizes fostering a deep sense of community and understanding by engaging employees in conversations and implementing actionable strategies. Participants develop the tools to effectively communicate, support, and engage with a wide range of perspectives, ultimately contributing to an interconnected community where everyone can thrive.

Continuous Improvement

CCP promotes continuous learning and flexible thinking. This is achieved through professional development offerings on:

• Bridging Generation in the Workplaces: Unlocking the Power of Your Team
• Effective Leadership
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace
• Strengthening Community Through Connected Conversations
• Innovative Teaching Strategies
• Psychological Safety at Work
• Leading Multigenerational Teams
• Emotional Intelligence
• Managing Conflict

These programs enable employees to develop confidence in their approach and interactions with people from varied backgrounds and perspectives while supporting lifelong learning and adaptability.

Celebrating Success

The Employee Campus and Community Partnership Award recognizes one faculty member and one staff member on each campus who go above and beyond to foster strong connections and collaboration within and beyond their campus community.

By collaborating with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local organizations, CCP strengthens connections between the institution and the broader community. These partnerships enable us to address critical community health priorities, expand valuable clinical training opportunities, offer pathway programs, and foster meaningful experiences for both the campus and our partners. Through these efforts, we enhance student learning and ensure that PCOM’s resources contribute effectively to the public good.