PCOM South Georgia's Student Doctor of the Year 2026 
Grace Perry (DO '26)

February 10, 2026

During orientation, Grace Perry (DO '26) remembers being warned that medical school would sometimes feel like “drinking from three firehoses at once:” balancing academics, life events and personal challenges. There were times throughout her training, she said, when it felt as though all three hoses were on full blast. Now, as a fourth-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) student, Perry describes being named PCOM South Georgia's 2026 Student Doctor of the Year as the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and moments of both frustration and growth.

Perry's path to PCOM South Georgia began close to home. Originally from Hahira, Georgia, she completed her undergraduate studies in biology at Georgia Southern University. Medicine had long been a meaningful part of her family history—her grandfather, originally from Mexico, earned his medical degree in orthopedic surgery before immigrating to the United States, initially hoping to establish his practice in Moultrie before ultimately settling in Valdosta. When exploring medical schools, Perry was drawn to Moultrie's character and charm, which reflected the same qualities that had once inspired her grandfather. Choosing PCOM South Georgia felt like a natural continuation of that legacy.

Throughout medical school, Perry has come to see osteopathic medicine not simply as a set of techniques, but as a way of listening and building trust. That perspective was reinforced during an emergency department encounter with a patient experiencing severe anxiety. Perry took time to listen closely and understand the sources of her distress rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms.

That philosophy was further strengthened during her clinical training at Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Maryland, a core clinical site for PCOM South Georgia. Working closely with the osteopathically recognized family medicine residency program, Perry experienced firsthand how osteopathic principles are woven into everyday practice. With osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) heavily integrated throughout her third- and fourth-year education, she gained confidence in applying a whole-person approach across a wide range of clinical settings.

“Osteopathic medicine will remain an essential tool that guides how I approach, understand, and care for my future patients,” she said. “My opportunity to train in an osteopathically recognized program at Meritus Health further strengthened my ability to seamlessly integrate these principles into everyday patient care.”

This approach carried into Perry's leadership and service roles throughout medical school. She served as a class representative and later as vice president of the Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association (SOIMA). Her involvement in initiatives such as the Diabetes Seminar sharpened her interest in internal medicine, particularly the long-term management of chronic disease, an interest further clarified through her work with patients living with conditions such as diabetes.

Through community outreach efforts such as the Sunbelt AgExpo, Perry gained a deeper understanding of Moultrie's community and the real-world barriers many residents face in managing chronic disease. The event served as an early introduction to the surrounding population, where PCOM South Georgia students partnered with a local family medicine physician to offer blood pressure and blood sugar screenings to volunteers. Under the guidance of the overseeing physician, students also provided patient education—an experience that underscored how limited time, resources and access to care can shape health outcomes long before a patient enters a clinic. These experiences reinforced Perry's interest in a specialty grounded in continuity, education and advocacy.

To Perry, what gives the recognition of being named Student Doctor of the Year its deepest meaning is the realization that becoming a physician is never a solitary journey. From the primary care providers who helped keep her healthy enough to show up each day, to mentors and preceptors who recognized her potential and pushed her beyond what she believed she was capable of, she knows that she was never walking the path alone. Her classmates became a source of constant support, lifting her up and sustaining her when the weight of training felt especially heavy. Looking to the future, Perry plans to pursue internal medicine with the goal of specializing in endocrinology.

“I don't see this as a finish line,” she said. “It's a reminder to keep showing up with the same curiosity, care,and commitment—especially when the work gets hard.”

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Each year, the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Council across PCOM's campuses selects a Student Doctor of the Year. Sponsored by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents, part of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), the honor recognizes a student who exemplifies leadership, service, professionalism, and a commitment to osteopathic whole-person care.

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