Stories of Success: 
From Graduate Students to Medical Students

August 31, 2026

For many incoming Biomedical Sciences graduate students at PCOM South Georgia, the start of a new academic journey can bring a mix of excitement and nerves. As the classes of 2027 and 2028 prepare for a life-changing opportunity, three former graduate students are sharing their experiences and offering encouragement for the years ahead.

Joshua Rohme, MS/Biomed '25 (DO '29), a second-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine student, has witnessed firsthand how beneficial the master’s program can be for those looking to become healthcare leaders. Before enrolling at PCOM South Georgia, Rohme had never heard of Moultrie. However, he knew he wanted to stay in-state for his post-baccalaureate education. 

“I had been working as an Emergency Medical Technician since I was 16, but I wanted to learn more about medicine and pursue an education focused on continuous patient care. When I toured PCOM South Georgia, they already knew about me and knew my name. That meant a lot,” said Rohme.

Rohme’s end goal was to attend medical school. As graduate students, Biomeds at PCOM South Georgia have a unique advantage: they can attend lectures alongside DO students and experience the anatomy lab for hands-on instruction.

“This exposes the Biomed MS students to the depth and pace of professional school academics,” explained Edward Shaw, PhD, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Biomedical Science Graduate Program. “It allows students to strengthen their academic skills, demonstrate their abilities, and deepen their foundational knowledge.”

Rohme’s classmates went on to pursue medical school, pharmacy school, medical laboratory sciences with the armed forces, and physician assistant programs. For undecided students, a second-year track option allows them to choose a concentration aligned with their academic interests and goals, including Advanced Biomedical Studies, Biomedical Research, Forensic Biology, and Translational Life Sciences.

“Most of our Biomed students use the graduate degree as a stepping stone to medical school, but you do have students who use the degree to enter research positions, whether in an academic setting or elsewhere,” The Biomed students have the opportunity to participate in research projects here at PCOM SGA, just like the DO students,” said Jeremy Dickens, Anatomical Coordinator for PCOM South Georgia.

Like Rohme, Anirudh Veludhandi, MS/Biomed '26 (DO '30), a first-year medical student at PCOM South Georgia, has known for most of his life that he wanted to attend medical school in Georgia. As an undergraduate, Veludhandi majored in Microbial Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and volunteered as a patient navigator and research assistant at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. After returning to Georgia, he worked as a research specialist with Emory University School of Medicine for nearly five years, conducting sickle cell disease research through Emory’s pediatric hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 

“I knew my next degree program would need to provide research opportunities. Because PCOM South Georgia is a smaller campus, students have opportunities to work closely with faculty and stay involved with research projects over time,” said Veludhandi.

As a graduate student, Veludhandi participated in Research Day, presenting a poster on research that he and others conducted under Thomas J. Last, PhD, professor of biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics, on the National Institutes of Health’s “All of Us Data.” The poster compared national cardiovascular outcomes with Georgia’s public health database, “Oasis.” Riya Patel, MS/Biomed '26 (DO '30), a Moultrie native, was part of the same research project before starting the DO program.

Because of their familiarity with the courses, labs, and faculty, many Biomed students go on to help other students with anatomy practicals and become campus tutors, placing them in leadership positions even as first-year medical students.

“Experiences outside of the classroom allowed me to discover my interests, develop as a leader, and become more connected to the PCOM community,” said Patel. My time in the BioMed program taught me that success is not just about earning good grades; it is about becoming the kind of person and future physician you want to be.”

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