According to Daniel Burke, DO '26, if you commit to giving your best every day, the results will follow.
When Burke walks across the stage on May 6 to receive his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, he will embody that principle.
Growing up with two parents in health care, Burke witnessed their dedication and genuine enthusiasm for their work. Even before he fully understood medicine, he knew his parents were giving their best each day and finding joy in what they did.
“They never missed a family dinner or my basketball games, and still gave their full energy and compassion to their patients every day. I watched them balance their professional lives with a strong family presence,” he said.
That example planted a seed early on, and while Burke explored other career paths, he ultimately knew he wanted to become a physician. He sought out a local physician and PCOM graduate to shadow and witnessed how he used a simple High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude (HVLA) to immediately resolve a patient’s chronic elbow pain.
“In that moment, I realized the DO pathway offered a set of tools and a hands-on approach to patient care that I couldn’t find elsewhere. That experience was eye-opening, and it strongly shaped my decision to pursue osteopathic medicine,” he said.
When he interviewed at PCOM Georgia, he was struck by the authenticity of the people he met. “There was a genuine sense of trust and sincerity that I didn’t experience to the same degree at other institutions.”
His fiancée at the time, now his wife, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Burke, DO '26, also interviewed and shared a similar impression. “When we were both accepted to the same medical school, close to our family and friends, it truly felt like the stars aligned,” he said.
Post-graduation, Daniel and Lizzy will continue their training at Emory University, with Lizzy as a Family Medicine resident and Daniel as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) resident. “I’m excited to care for a wide range of patient populations, including those with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and stroke, as well as patients dealing with sports-related injuries and chronic pain,” he said.
While at PCOM Georgia, Burke served as the president of the PM&R interest group, where he increased awareness of the specialty within the student body. Through his efforts with his peers, they were able to grow membership significantly and highlight what makes PM&R a unique and rewarding field.
His advice to future students is that it's ok to not be perfect. “Your good grades will open doors, but they’re not what ultimately sets you apart. What you do outside of the classroom, your experiences, initiative, and consistency, are what will truly distinguish you," he said. “If you commit to giving your best every day, show up with consistency and resiliency and integrity, success will follow.”
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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