Although PCOM Georgia is far from her hometown of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Elaine Garcia-Colon, MS/PA '26, embraced her acceptance into the Physician Assistant (PA) program as an opportunity for new beginnings.
As the first person in her family to pursue a career in medicine, she always looked up to her childhood friend, Bianca, now a practicing PA.
“Her support has been crucial to my motivation and success in PA school, and I’m continually inspired by my classmates who have provided such an amazing sense of community; they’ve made PCOM a true 'home away from home.’”
After tearing her ACL at the age of 16, Garcia-Colon developed a fascination with surgery, watching videos and practicing ACL reconstructions through an app on her phone. Her desire to become a PA was further shaped by the many interactions she had with healthcare providers during her teenage years and undergraduate studies.
She chose PCOM because of the holistic approach to health care and foundational education. “I was drawn to the faculty’s reputation, the small class sizes, and the potential for close relationships with classmates and faculty,” she said.
Some of her most memorable moments while being at PCOM Georgia are from her clinical rotations that placed her across the US in various states, including New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina, and California.
“Each location provided unique insights into different healthcare settings and patient populations, expanding my understanding of healthcare delivery,” she said.
She was part of the PA Student Council and served as the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) representative and as the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) representative, which also helped mold her professional development. As their liaison, she had the opportunity to attend the 2026 AAPA Conference in Colorado, and she participated in several service activities, such as fundraising for Home of Hope, an organization for children experiencing homelessness and young moms.
Garcia-Colon’s experience in PA school has laid a strong foundation of both clinical competence and compassionate care. “I aspire to contribute to a healthcare environment where patients feel heard and supported, just as I’ve experienced,” she said.
Despite facing numerous challenges on her path to medicine, she hopes to serve as a new source of inspiration and support for future generations in her family.
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Joy Williford
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
© 2026 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
