Sisters Share Their Journey to Med School at PCOM Georgia

November 15, 2022

Jessica and Danielle Myara are much more than sisters. Only 11 months apart in age, they've been each other's support system, cheerleader, competitor and classmate.

Having graduated with Master of Science degrees in Biomedical Sciences from PCOM Georgia, both are now second year medical students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program with aspirations of specializing in emergency medicine, cardiology or radiology upon graduation.

They've come a long way.

A rough start

Born in Flushing, New York to a family that struggled with finances and substance abuse, the sisters were taken in by their maternal grandmother who had a myriad of health issues. She died when her granddaughters were four and five years old of a hospital acquired infection following open-heart surgery.

“Not understanding why we were being uprooted and couldn't see our grandma anymore was difficult,” Jessica said. At the time, she remembers being very curious about the events leading up to her grandmother's death.

Their security shattered at a very young age, the sisters moved frequently throughout the state of New York living with different family members but ultimately living with their mother who was able to provide a sense of stability.

“Despite our financial struggles, our mom tried her best to support us,” said Danielle. “She would give us the clothes off her back and make sure we never went hungry even if that meant she ate less,” said Jessica. When they were in seventh and eighth grades, the family was evicted from their home and the decision was made to send the sisters to Florida to live with their father. Despite facing adversity at the time, his daughters believe he did his best to provide for them.

The many moves were stressful but “leaving New York to move out of state was the most stressful of all,” Jessica recalls.

Danielle acquired a stress-related hair loss situation and went to a dermatologist. She remembers, “I saw technology in the room that was fascinating to me.” The sisters had always been curious about science. They remember playing in the dirt as young children with a goal of digging a hole to China.

Extremely self-sufficient and now with a stable roof over their heads, the sisters were able to help pay household bills from the age of 16. But, even after moving to Florida, they were surrounded by substance abuse. They wondered, “How can the body take something like that and still be able to function properly?”

“We saw people, who despite losing everything, continued to use drugs. I craved a deeper understanding of the human body, how the brain works,” Danielle said.

School became their escape, Jessica said. “We fought like sisters, but we had each other's back for everything. Friendly sisterly competition helped us perform even better. When one of us was struggling, the other would help. We learned differently.”

During her senior year of high school, Danielle participated in the dual enrollment program at Valencia College in Orlando. She was invited into the international college honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. She and Jessica earned associate degrees and then earned scholarships to the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Discovering osteopathic medicine

While at UCF, they discovered an organization called Pre-SOMA, the undergraduate division of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), a national organization of students pursuing a Doctor of Medicine degree. They each became active in the chapter, Jessica as the vice president, national liaison officer and networking director and Danielle as the president, academic director and secretary. Due to the “incredible team” they had, the chapter was named National Chapter of the Year, Jessica said.

They toured a number of medical schools as part of their Pre-SOMA activities. Danielle recalls touring PCOM Georgia in 2017 and sitting in on a medical school class. She met DO student Claire Dorcent, DO '21, and experienced a day in her life as a medical student.

“We connected well and she supported me as I applied to the master's program,” Danielle said.

She was inspired by presentations given by Richard White, PhD, chair of the Biomedical Sciences department, and Francis Jenney, PhD, a professor of biochemistry.

“I knew this was the place for me,” she said. “It was not too far from home and I felt comfortable because of the diversity. It's a small community and it felt like a family.”

Danielle matriculated into the master's program and the following year her sister joined her in the Biomedical Sciences program. They helped pay for their education through a federal student work-study program and were hired at the PCOM Georgia Simulation Center. As part of their positions, they worked as the voice of the high-tech mannequins behind a two-way mirror observing simulated scenarios and hoping to one day be on the other side of the glass as medical students.

Following the simulations, Donald W. Penney, MD, chair of the osteopathic medicine clinical education program, took time to answer the sisters' questions.

“He inspired us,” Danielle said. “He's an example of the wonderful faculty members PCOM Georgia has—physicians like clinical professors Gary Freed, DO, and Frank Jones, MD, MPH, are an absolute inspiration,” she said.

She also mentioned James Hogue, DO, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine. “After a long day of teaching medical students, Dr. Hogue went out of his way to teach us suturing techniques. It's professors like this that make PCOM such a special place,” she said.

Now in the DO program, the sisters look back on their experiences up to this point.

“As a student trying to get into medical school, you remember all of the kindness and guidance you receive to achieve your dreams.” She recalls. “The faculty at PCOM Georgia do everything they can to support you which makes me feel truly lucky to be a student here.”

Leaders on campus

First in their families to graduate from college and first in their families to pursue medical careers, they are both leaders on campus. Each sister served on the Graduate Council, Jessica as vice president and Student Government Association representative and Danielle as the general studies class chair. Both sisters are currently class representatives on the DO Council, a four year position in which they are the liaisons between their classmates and the faculty at PCOM Georgia. They also serve as DO student representatives on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

Jessica is also the vice president and pre-SOMA liaison for the Student Osteopathic Medical Association, a DO student ambassador, an anatomy lab teaching assistant, and a student researcher. Danielle is a DO student ambassador, a peer tutor, the residency coordinator and treasurer of the Radiology Club, the regional Southeast Service Chair for the Latino Medical Student Association, a student researcher, and a founder of the campus Medical Spanish Initiative Committee.

Danielle said, “Shadowing and working with DOs has given me the chance to observe and assist in the daily duties of an osteopathic physician, and has also allowed me to witness firsthand the special care they provide to their patients. These experiences have provided me with certainty that this is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. Today, I am blessed to wear the white coat.”

She added, “My sister has always been my best friend. Our life wasn't trouble-free, but we always had each other to get through tough times. Today we are so proud to stand together, side by side, in white coats.”

Jessica said, “Although our life has had its ups and downs, I wouldn't change anything I've experienced. These times helped us develop into the resilient women that we are today. We hope to inspire others who may be in a similar situation.”

All in all, she said, “Becoming a physician is not an easy journey, but we are living proof that you can achieve anything you set your mind to regardless of the obstacles and circumstances you’ve been dealt.”

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