Throughout the months of July and August, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is proud to host Souls Shot Portrait Project: Philadelphia Vol. 8, an emotionally powerful and visually compelling gallery exhibition honoring individuals lost to gun violence.
On display on the first floor of Rowland Hall, a central location where patients, doctors and students intersect, the gallery features fine art portraits created by professional artists in collaboration with victims' families. Each piece offers a deeply personal tribute, capturing the life, legacy and story of a loved one whose life was taken too soon.
For Amanda Mills, a PCOM staff member whose late fiancé was memorialized in Volume 5 of the exhibit in 2021, the project is deeply personal and profoundly powerful.
“These portraits don’t just show faces—they reflect who each person was, what they stood for, and the love and passion they brought to the world,” Mills shared. “Their voices were silenced, but through this art, they continue to speak. I hope when people see these portraits, they feel inspired to live with more purpose and to speak up when something isn’t right. We all have a role to play in preventing this kind of loss.”
The exhibit is presented through PCOM's SHELTER Program (Support and Healing through Empowerment, Learning, and Trauma Education in Recovery after gun violence). This initiative expands the College's trauma-informed support for patients and families impacted by gun violence and reflects PCOM's broader commitment to addressing this crisis through research, student engagement and community outreach.
“This exhibit is incredibly important for the PCOM community – our staff, faculty, students and patients,” said Erik Langenau, DO, MS, MAPP, co-director of the SHELTER program, professor and chief academic technology officer. “It creates space for reflection, healing and conversation about the impact of gun violence.”
The Souls Shot Portrait Project uses the transformative power of art to bear witness to what has been lost – and to inspire action. By honoring the stories behind the faces, the exhibit invites viewers to recognize the enduring human cost of gun violence and to become part of the movement for change.
To commemorate the exhibit's arrival, PCOM hosted a special reception on July 14. The event welcomed members of the community, families of those memorialized, and members of the College community to reflect, remember and stand together against the devastating impact of gun violence.
The gallery will remain on display in Rowland Hall through the end of August and is open to the public during regular campus hours.
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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Ally Wengel
Public Relations Manager
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: allywe@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6325
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