Third-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student Justice Sconiers (PharmD '27) encourages his peers to embrace new challenges: “Just because you’ve never done something before, doesn’t mean you have to hold yourself back.”
He speaks from experience, having joined a research team led by Yujin Kim, PharmD, PhD, an assistant professor at PCOM Georgia, studying racial and ethnic disparities in medication adherence among children with special healthcare needs.
His colleague, Jalen Love (PharmD ‘27), echoed this sentiment, sharing that before attending the College, she had minimal experience in research development or scientific writing.
Dr. Kim’s research focuses on making complex medical data accessible to patients and families, empowering them to better understand their health needs. Working collaboratively, the team designs family-centered surveys, partners with pediatric clinics and hospitals, and explores how comfortably providers address medication adherence—strengthening community ties through the Pediatrics Club and local health events.
Sconiers shared that working with a younger population has been extremely fulfilling. “It’s rewarding because you’re working with young children who are managing conditions like diabetes, cystic fibrosis and asthma, and helping treat them so that these diseases don’t hold back their quality of life.”
In addition to promoting their data findings, Sconiers and Love are sharing their research experiences to motivate fellow students by participating in Beyond the Classroom, a new series launched by the PCOM School of Pharmacy. The monthly series offers students a platform to discuss their experiences with current and prospective students, providing insight into what life is really like in pharmacy school. In these sessions, topics range from balancing coursework, managing schedules, preparing for exams, and integrating research into their academic experience.
“Dr. Kim really gives us the chance to grow. It won’t always be new to you, and one day you’ll be the one passing it on,” Love said.
The team presented their data at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists conference in Las Vegas last December, and will be presenting their work at the College’s Research Day on April 17.
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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Joy Williford
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: joyde@pcom.edu
Office: 470-572-7558
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