Annual Research Day on May 7 Keynote Speech by Dr. Orphir from Cornell University
May 1, 2025
More than 80 research projects will be on display during the PCOM South Georgia annual Research Day on Wednesday, May 7. PCOM student physicians, residents from Georgia South and Archbold, and physicians from area healthcare systems
will share their most recent scholarly work during poster sessions and brief podium
talks.
A variety of topics will be discussed, including:
“Mapping genetic risk factors for cardiac arrhythmias: A multi-population GWAS using
All of Us research data” presented by Daniel Chanelo (DO ’28), PCOM South Georgia
student physician.
“Optimizing treatment for infantile hemangiomas: A case report on the use of timolol
and timing of oral propranolol initiation” presented by Makayla Farr (DO ’26), PCOM
South Georgia student physician in collaboration with Georgia South Family Medicine
Residency.
“Postpartum hemorrhage in the absence of traditional risk factors: A clinical perspective”
presented by Lisandra Chinea Ramos (DO ’26), PCOM South Georgia student in collaboration
with Georgia South Family Medicine Residency.
“Pyogenic granuloma at the ileocecal junction: Unusual culprit of chronic anemia and
intussusception” presented by Xavia Taylor, DO ’23, PCOM South Georgia alumna and PGY-2 Internal Medicine Resident with Archbold Medical
Center.
Alexander Ophir, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Cornell University
The keynote speaker for Research Day will be Alexander Ophir, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He will present
“Sources of reproductive decision-making and their practical applications using Krogh’s
principle.” His speech will open the event at noon in the multipurpose room.
Dr. Ophir describes his work as focusing “on the interaction of social behavior and
reproductive decision-making.” Using primarily rodents, Dr. Ophir and his team conduct
laboratory and fieldwork research methods, neural manipulations, histology, and genomic/epigenetic
methods to comprehend individual variation in genes, brain and behavior. They focus
specifically on monogamy and social attachment; alternative reproductive tactics;
parental care; early-life experience on development; socio-spatial cognition; mate
choice; animal communication; reproductive decision-making; and the substrates governing
the social brain.
Dr. Ophir joined Cornell’s Department of Psychology in 2013. He was previously a member
of the Department of Zoology faculty at Oklahoma State University and the University
of Florida. He earned a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroendocrinology from the
University of Texas and a doctoral degree in animal behavior at McMaster University.
His work has been featured in many professional scientific journals and popular publications,
such as National Geographic, Newsweek, the LA Times and the New York Times.
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.
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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