With a combined investment of more than $8 million, a physical therapy education center
and additional research space are being constructed in a 20,000 square foot area.
In addition, a Simulation Center opened recently and will be officially dedicated.
Chief Campus Officer Bryan Ginn said, “PCOM continues to invest and grow its health science programs in Gwinnett
in response to demonstrated educational need in our region and our state.”
He added, “These capital investments of more than $8 million will pay dividends toward
our student's educational outcomes in both existing and new academic programs, and
enhance GA-PCOM's role in educating future healthcare providers.”
The theme of the day is “Together we are building a stronger, healthier community”
which speaks to both the PCOM community and the Gwinnett and Georgia communities at
large. As GA-PCOM adds and enhances programs, the campus-wide community benefits.
As these programs educate students and produce graduates, the wider community benefits
as more providers are available to treat patients.
As the physical therapy education center is constructed, a physical therapy education program is under development. GA-PCOM is seeking accreditation for this program from the
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The college plans to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application
required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1, 2017. If candidacy status
is granted, the college will admit the inaugural class of students in June 2018.
Through the use of patient actors and simulators, the Simulation Center gives GA-PCOM
students a supportive environment to practice clinical skills, develop crucial communication
abilities, and demonstrate clinical competence prior to treating real patients. Patient
actors, also known as standardized patients, are trained to document the skills of
students and to provide them with honest and constructive feedback based on clinical
performance. Sessions are recorded on video for evaluation and review by faculty members
and students.
The Center also uses state-of-the-art human patient simulators to train students.
The simulators are full-body mannequins that breathe and have heartbeats, pupils that
react to light and medications, pulses that can be felt at eight locations, and lung
sounds. They can also talk and accurately mimic human physiology responses to procedures
such as CPR, intubation, ventilation, and catheterization. In addition, birthing and
neonatal simulators are available to provide a complete birthing experience before,
during and after delivery. Surgical, virtual, ultrasound and multi able trainers are
also available.
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. 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 pcom.edu/georgia or call 678-225-7500.
For more information, contact: Barbara Myers Senior Public Relations Manager Email: BarbaraMy@pcom.edu Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell:
770-309-0613