Members of the inaugural PCOM Georgia School of Pharmacy class of 2014, along with family members, faculty and staff, came together in the
campus Atrium recently to honor one of their own. Jason O’Neal, PharmD ’14, who passed away on August 12, 2016, was remembered as a gentle giant who left a
huge legacy behind him. The group donated money to name a study room at the campus
in his honor.
“I hope that anyone passing by his study room will realize that there are obstacles in life, but with grit and determination, you can persevere,” his brother, Jared, said during a time of reflection at a dedication ceremony held on campus.
Dr. Tim Poole, who served as the chair of pharmacy practice in 2014, remarked that O’Neal was a professional within our profession. He used the words grace, peace and calm to describe Jason, whom he recalled would go to Grady Memorial Hospital regularly “to get a tune-up.”
Poole also used the terms grind, grit and perseverance when describing O’Neal’s determination
to finish pharmacy school despite suffering from the effects of sickle cell anemia,
a disorder he was diagnosed with when he was six months old.
Eddie Williams, PharmD ‘14, was the pharmacy council chair of the class of 2014 and one of O’Neal’s closest friends. He described O’Neal as being reserved, “but once you got to know him, he was the life of the party.” Williams worked with Alisa Toney, senior director of development, to spearhead the study room initiative in remembrance of Jason. “He was a great friend,” Williams said, “the closest person to me that I’ve ever lost.”
Williams’ wife, Sharonda, remarked, “If there was anyone who did not live their life in vain, it was Jason. He left an imprint that will never go away.”
James Lindsay, PharmD ’14, one of the so-called “Three Musketeers,” together with
Jason and Eddie, recalled that no one ever understood the pain O’Neal was in, because
he didn’t dwell on it. “He was happy all the time,” he said. “His spirit is definitely
here right now. This is a good day. This is not a bad day,” he said, scanning the
room filled with almost 40 attendees.
Classmate Erica Gray, PharmD ’14, said Jason taught her to live life to the fullest. “Don’t put anything to the side,” she said. “Do it today. Don’t wait until later.”
Beulah O’Neal, Jason’s mother, thanked those in attendance, saying PCOM Georgia is where her son found his friends. “He just loved this place,” she said. “He really grew up here.”
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education with a storied 125-year history dedicated to the healthcare professions. 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.
Jamesia Harrison, MS
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Email: jamesiaha@pcom.edu
Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell: 470-572-7558
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