First-generation college student and lifelong North Georgia resident, Turner Brittain, MS/PA '25, is graduating in the 2025 Class of the Master's in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program at PCOM Georgia. His career was forged by a desire to help people in emergency settings.
While not everyone prefers the high-pressure stakes of emergency medicine, Brittain feels right at home in such an environment.
“My experiences working with emergency medicine professionals like Dr. Nnamdi and Tyler Walker, PA-C, solidified my interest in fast-paced, acute care settings,” he said. “The unpredictable nature excites me because it requires strong clinical judgment in the moment, but also adaptability, and the opportunity to provide a broad spectrum of medical care to those in need. I'm motivated by the mix of skills that defines emergency medicine.”
It all began with an Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy. After graduation, Brittain quickly realized he wanted to develop a more extensive skill set, and pursuing a career as a PA provided the ideal balance of autonomy and collaboration. Additionally, it offered him the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with his patients.
“Pursuing the PA track meant that I would be given the ability to make a real impact in people's lives, not only just by treating illness, but by educating, listening, and advocating for my patients so they can lead healthier lives.”
Choosing PCOM Georgia was an easy decision for Brittain, who values staying close to his family and community.
“The school’s reputation for academic excellence, supportive faculty and strong ties to Georgia's healthcare system made it the ideal environment for me,” Brittain shared. He also values that PCOM Georgia provides connections within the healthcare community throughout Georgia, allowing students to train and provide care to a diverse patient population in medically underserved areas.
His long-term goal is to become a trusted and highly skilled provider who offers compassionate, patient-centered care during some of the most critical moments in patients' lives. Beyond his clinical expertise he hopes to mentor future PA students. “I plan to provide the same support and guidance I received from those who mentored me. My goal is not only to be a skilled clinician, but also a source of reassurance and strength for patients and their families during some of their most vulnerable moments.”
Throughout his time at PCOM Georgia, Brittain found purpose in every aspect of his demanding training.
“I constantly reminded myself to remember my ‘why’. Every individual moment of the program was previously something that I prayed for, and then I was given the opportunity to follow through with,” said Brittain.
His inspiration comes from many sources, including his wife Callie, who moved hours away from her family to support his career goals, and their newborn daughter Claire, whose presence gives him motivation every single day.
His advice to fellow students is this: “Remember why you started, don't give up, and embrace the challenges. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because as soon as you do, you'll do things you never imagined possible.”
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 Deibert
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
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