When Gabrielle Horchos (DO ’26) took the podium at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly in Salt Lake City last month, the moment marked years of dedication and the continuation of a family legacy rooted in physiatry.
Horchos, who grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, presented her case report, “Diagnosing It Early: A Guillain-Barré Variant That’s Hard to Catch–Miller Fisher Syndrome.” Selected as one of the few student podium presenters nationwide, she stood before hundreds of attendees at the leading national conference in the specialty she hopes to pursue—physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).
Both of Horchos’ parents, Elizabeth Karazim-Horchos, DO ’93, and Paul Horchos, DO ’93, are PCOM alumni and practicing physiatrists. Her grandfather, too, worked in the same field.
“But I wanted to pursue medicine for my own reasons,” she said. “My goal has always been to bridge gaps in a broken system—between healthcare systems, clinical leadership, and the business of care. Too often, people understand only one side, which made me realize that to truly make a change in health care, I needed a medical degree.”
Before PCOM, Horchos earned a bachelor’s degree in global studies with a concentration in public health and an MBA in healthcare business management, both from Loyola University Maryland. Her passion for the intersection of public health, economics, and clinical care naturally led her to medical school, and choosing PCOM was a clear decision.
“The best doctors I’ve ever met went to PCOM, which made it my number one choice,” she said. “Every doctor I’ve met here is personable, down-to-earth, and genuinely cares about people.”
Growing up, Horchos’s mother regularly practiced osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) at home, treating her for sinus issues and other common ailments, which gave her an early and personal understanding of its benefits. Her time at PCOM has further deepened her appreciation for osteopathic principles and the role of OMT in patient care.
Among the mentors who have shaped her training, Andrew Levin, DO, assistant professor of osteopathic manipulative medicine, stands out. Horchos notes that her mother once trained a resident who later trained Dr. Levin—who is now mentoring her—a connection she describes as a full-circle moment that exemplifies the community she values most about PCOM.
“Every doctor I’ve met from PCOM has inspired me to be better,” she said. “The Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine has really helped me see that OMT is something that we can apply every day with our patients.”
The research that led to Horchos’ national presentation began when she arranged a winter elective at an acute rehabilitation hospital in Scranton, since PM&R isn’t part of PCOM’s standard third-year rotations, where she encountered a case her attending called “one in a million.”
The patient had developed Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome—an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own nerves. The patient’s unusual symptoms made diagnosis difficult, but through electromyography—a diagnostic test central to physiatry—the team confirmed the condition.
Months later, she learned that her submission had been accepted and that she’d been selected for a podium presentation, one of the highest honors a medical student can receive at the national meeting.
“I’d never written a case report before, but I wanted to challenge myself and learn something new,” Horchos said. “I started this research out of curiosity, and to have it recognized nationally is both nerve-wracking and incredibly exciting. It makes me feel like I have something meaningful to contribute while representing PCOM and the specialty I hope to pursue.”
Now preparing to apply for residency programs in PM&R, Horchos hopes to follow in her parents’ footsteps while forging her own path—possibly by combining her interest in pediatrics with rehabilitation medicine. She ultimately aims to bridge the clinical and administrative sides of health care to make rehabilitation medicine more visible and valued.
“Rehab medicine is an investment in the patient’s long-term functionality,” she said. “If you can communicate its value—to insurers, hospitals, and policymakers—that’s how you create change.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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