Christy Dinkins, EdD, assistant director of campus and community partnerships at PCOM Georgia, recognized a gap: too many first-generation and underrepresented students lacked guidance and exposure to medical career pathways. In response, she created the PCOM Georgia Community Engagement Internship, a credit-based program that connects undergraduate students to healthcare careers while supporting community outreach and STEM education.
Drawing from her own experience as a first-generation college student and involvement with Georgia State University's WomenLead program, Dinkins helped shape this pathway program that has since grown into a powerful opportunity offering students practical experience toward careers in medicine and science.
Among the first to take part in the program were Georgia State undergraduates Anandita Pathak, Mahek Virani and Jahin Zashim. The three have diverse academic backgrounds and future goals, but they share a belief in the value of mentorship, representation and real-world internship exposure.
Rooted in mentorship, service and equity, the internship aligns closely with PCOM's mission to advance whole-person health care. Interns support K–12 STEM outreach, mentor students and complete independent projects tied to their academic goals–gaining experience, building connections as well as exploring how their future careers can make a meaningful impact.
“My goal has always been to create pathway programs that start as early as grade three and follow students through to medical school. This internship is just one piece of that vision: helping students understand what’s possible and giving them the tools to get there,” Dinkins said.
Virani first encountered the internship through the WomenLead in Science program, where Dinkins spoke on a professional panel. The internship not only introduced her to PCOM and osteopathic medicine, but also gave her firsthand insight into the school's culture, approach to patient care and the value of a holistic model.
“I didn't even know there was a medical school down the road,” Virani said. “After being on campus and connecting with DO students, PCOM is definitely on my list of schools I'm applying to for medical school.”
From organizing STEM outreach and programs like Opportunities Academy to leading medical-themed escape rooms and forensic challenges, the interns have created hands-on learning experiences for high schoolers. They've also volunteered at science fairs in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties, gaining insight into local inequities while engaging with students and educators.
Pathak has mentored and led sessions at PCOM outreach events, but what stood out most was the support behind the scenes. “You could tell Dr. Dinkins truly cared,” she said. “This experience affirmed my path. I'm stepping into spaces I want to continue to lead in.”
Zashim says the internship experience has strengthened her communication and leadership skills, deepened her understanding of osteopathic medicine, and shaped the kind of physician she hopes to become.
“Exposure to the holistic approach reminded me why I chose medicine,” she said. “It's taught me to connect across differences—with empathy and authority—and become the doctor I aspire to be.”
For Dinkins, the most rewarding moments are those that reaffirm her mission: helping students recognize their potential. The internship has become a launchpad for students seeking guidance, representation and real-world impact.
“We want them to walk away with something they can own,” Dinkins said. “Whether they pursue med school, nursing, or another path, they'll have meaningful experiences serving both a medical institution and its community.”
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.
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Kristen Hopf
Communications Content Specialist
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: kristenho1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6303
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