From the very start of his medical career, Donald W. Penney, MD, MSC, FACEP, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Chair of Clinical Science at PCOM Georgia, has been driven by a passion for global service and making a difference in underserved communities around the world.
Shortly after finishing medical school in 1982, Penney embarked on a three-month journey to Zambia working with the Bembe tribe—an experience that, though unrelated to PCOM at the time, would ignite an enduring commitment to providing international medical aid.
“That experience got into my blood,” said Penney as he reflected on that first mission trip. Since then, he has dedicated himself to giving back through global service. Over the years, his missions with PCOM students have included trips to Nepal (2017), Guatemala (2022), Tanzania (2023) and Cambodia (2024), deepening his understanding of the complex challenges faced in global health.
This summer, a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and students from PCOM and International Medical Relief (IMR) traveled to rural Vietnam for a week-long mission to bring medical care to those in need. Guided by Dr. Penney, they served 1,244 patients across seven clinics in the remote Quang Nam region.
They provided essential treatments such as distributing sanitary supplies, reading glasses, performing dental work, and administering anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections—services often unavailable in these communities. Local translators, many of whom are emerging medical students in Vietnam, helped to bridge the language barriers, explaining procedures and facilitating dialogue between students and patients. Dr. Penney and his team worked closely with each patient, carefully reviewing conditions and determining the best course of care.
“This environment lends itself to the art of clinical reasoning—training students to think like doctors when resources are limited,” Dr. Penney shared.
“This trip felt important for me to take, not only as an opportunity to learn under skilled physicians alongside my friends, but also as an opportunity to simply do my best to care for people beyond the reach of their country's health care,” said Humza Omar (DO ‘28) a first-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at PCOM Georgia.
“While in Vietnam, I learned the value of a thorough physical exam in uncovering the root of a patient’s problem; the importance of creating sustainable treatment plans despite limited resources and time; and the critical role of hygiene, nutrition, and holistic approaches in maintaining health where the kind of medical care we often take for granted is not readily accessible,” Omar continued. “These are all lessons I will apply when caring for my future patients.”
Saad Rahman (DO ‘28) rotated through several roles in the clinics alongside other medical students and physicians, including working in triage and in the pharmacy. “Working in a new setting challenged me to think critically and adapt quickly, especially when facing language barriers. I chose this trip because I believe that learning medicine should go beyond the classroom and hospital walls.”
Thanks to PCOM’s partnership with IMR, volunteers adhere to high standards, including follow-up care for critical patients in remote areas and ensuring sustainable and ethical services are being provided.
This mission trip to Vietnam was part of the ongoing PCOM Global Health Initiative, a student-led organization committed to delivering service and medical aid early in students’ training. As the partnership continues to grow each year, so does its positive impact on communities and the development of future healthcare providers.
Looking ahead, Dr. Penney and his colleagues are planning their next trips, with hopes of potentially going across the Amazon River, where volunteers will learn the complexities of providing medical aid deep in the rainforest.
“None of these trips would have been possible without Dean Andrea Mann’s unwavering support and endorsement,” Penney emphasized.
As Dr. Penney continues to lead medical service trips, he is shaping the next generation of global caregivers—one mission at a time.
Click here for more information on the PCOM Global Health Initiative.
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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