Students also received graduation regalia, had a class photo taken and bonded, after
returning from their third and fourth years away from campus, at an outdoor picnic.
The Class of 2018 Commencement Dinner Dance was held May 22, 2018, at the Infinite
Energy Center. Graduating students heard from School of Pharmacy Dean Shawn Spencer, PhD, and Osteopathic Medicine Dean H. William Craver III, DO, in addition to PCOM President Jay Feldstein, DO.
Class chairs addressed their classmates. Krystle Richmond, MS ’18, said, “My acceptance
into this program gave me renewed hope and now my completion of this program only
adds fuel to the heights I know I can go. I believe this stands true for the rest
of my biomedical sciences class.”
Alexander Navone, DO ’18, said, “We learned how to speak to patients, how to make
diagnoses, how to treat illnesses. We also learned about ourselves – what kind of
medicine draws our interest and what kind of patients to devote our lives to.”
Anthony Alexander, PharmD ’18, recalled that he had also addressed his classmates
during the White Coat Ceremony in 2014. “We were so fresh, excited, anxious, bright-eyed
and bushy-tailed to begin our journey to becoming healthcare professionals. To say
these past few years have been challenging is an understatement.”
He added, “We’ve been running a marathon until now. Always remember that the victory
doesn’t go to the fast nor the swift, but to those strong enough who endure to the
end. And I am proud to say that we remained steadfast over the years and now we can
bask in the glory of our efforts.”
Alexander concluded, “I charge each and every one of you to be the change in the world
that you want to see.”
Students were honored by faculty members with a myriad of awards recognizing community
service, leadership and scholarship.
A military pinning ceremony led by Associate Dean for Clerkships and Core Site Development
Murray Berkowitz, DO, (US Army Ret.) honored five DO students who will serve in the
United States Air Force, Army, Navy and Reserve National Guard. Founding Dean of GA-PCOM
Paul Evans, DO, addressed the audience. “You will learn a great deal about medicine
and what it means to be a citizen of the United States to people around the world.”
The 2018 GA-PCOM Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal Recognition Reception was held on May 23, 2018, at the 1818 Club and honored medal recipient Danielle Ward,
DO ’18. Ward addressed the attendees. “Osteopathic medicine has given me the opportunity
to achieve my dream of becoming a physician,” she said. “I look forward to continuing
to make you all proud.”
As the commencement season for the biomedical sciences, osteopathic medicine and pharmacy
classes is behind us, campus students, faculty and staff members look forward to the
graduation of the inaugural class of physician assistant studies students on July 31, 2018, at the Infinite Energy Center.
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a private, not-for-profit, accredited institute of higher education dedicated
to the healthcare professions. The Suwanee, Georgia, campus is affiliated with Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine, a premier osteopathic medical school with a storied
history. PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and
physical therapy and graduate degrees in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science,
and physician assistant studies. Emphasizing "a whole person approach to care," PCOM
Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service
to the wider community. For more information, visit pcom.edu/georgia 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 more information, contact: Barbara Myers Senior Public Relations Manager Email: BarbaraMy@pcom.edu Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell:
770-309-0613