Mailyn Cruz has always wanted to make a difference in the lives of other people.
“I loved learning about science and biology as I was growing up,” she said. “I took my first Red Cross training course at the age of 12 while babysitting and became a lifeguard at the age of 15 with CPR/AED certifications. I loved learning how to help people in need and this fostered my desire to pursue a career in health care.”
Growing up in a military family, Cruz claims not one but three hometowns—Watkinsville,
Georgia; Hollywood, Maryland; and Pensacola, Florida.
“I am the eldest daughter of six children, so I stepped up as a caregiver when my father was deployed overseas multiple times,” Cruz explained. “I believe this is where my desire to take care of people came from.”
While she had the desire to become a doctor, obstacles stood in her way.
“I was not the typical pre-medical student with the perfect 4.0 GPA, abundant research, or multiple leadership experiences,” Cruz said. “My performance in college was not perfect, and I didn't feel like my medical school application was competitive enough to apply directly.”
She planned to complete a graduate degree program before applying to medical school to help strengthen her academic record and improve her learning skills.
“I was living in Pensacola, Florida, while finishing my last semester of college when I learned PCOM South Georgia was offering a master’s degree in biomedical sciences,” Cruz said. “My family had also recently settled down in Leesburg, Georgia, after my dad retired from the Marine Corps. The desire to move closer to my family and improve my general biomedical sciences knowledge is what initially led me to choose PCOM South Georgia.”
Cruz was accepted into the inaugural class of PCOM South Georgia’s Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program in the fall of 2020.
“The MS program was incredible,” she said. “It gave us exposure to medical school lectures, the anatomy lab and academic mentors who wanted to see us succeed. I was able to strengthen my academic record to be competitive enough to apply to PCOM South Georgia's DO program the following year, and I was accepted in Fall 2021.”
During her time as a student, Cruz has been involved in several projects, but her involvement with the mentorship program with students at a local school, organized by the Office of Campus and Community Partnerships, was especially memorable.
“I partnered with a junior high school girl who was in need of a mentor,” she explained. “We met on a weekly basis, and I was able to help her work through social issues, gain confidence in herself and in her academic abilities, and lend a listening ear when she was feeling overwhelmed. It was an extremely meaningful experience for me as I was able to see how being present can make such a change in someone's life.”
In March 2025, Cruz learned about the next phase of her career after graduation.
“I matched into the Georgia South Psychiatry Residency Program in Moultrie, where I will be training for the next four years,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful to be able to stay in the region and provide health care to communities with limited access. I aspire to contribute meaningful research in the field of psychiatry and reduce the stigma associated with mental health care.”
With every obstacle she’s overcome, Cruz knows who she can always rely on.
“My parents are my biggest inspiration,” she said. “They always support me and encourage me to keep trying, even when things don't go the way I plan. I would not be where I am today without their unconditional love and emotional support along this journey.”
In 2019, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing PCOM South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, PCOM South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. PCOM is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining PCOM Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, PCOM South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
Cindy B. Montgomery
Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: cindymo@pcom.edu
Office: 229-668-3198 | Cell: 229-873-2003
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