Christopher Coleman visited Georgia Campus - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on Jan. 31 as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series.
Despite having cerebral palsy, a motor disorder that limits his ability to walk and speak, 44-year-old Christopher Coleman provided insights into living an “unconfined life.”
On January 31, the Office of Diversity and Community Relations hosted Coleman, a life coach and the founder and CEO of the Unconfined Life Institute, who spoke to students as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series.
Coleman believes his life has been one breakthrough after another. Brought back to life at birth, he said doctors thought he would never talk, but today he encourages many despite broken speech. Overcoming barriers, he completed a college degree, moved alone to a major city, became a homeowner and travels the country despite his inability to walk.
“To rise above expectations, we must embrace who we are … that has to be enough,” he said.
Seated in a wheelchair throughout most of his talk, Coleman asked the audience “what wheelchair is holding you back?” He climbed out of the chair and addressed the students directly, “You’ll never be a great doctor until you’re able to get out of your own wheelchair.”
According to Coleman, an unconfined life “is achieved by gaining confidence, identifying
your life purpose, maximizing your potential, and breaking away from your comfort
zone to move from captivity to freedom. A person capable of and committed to analyzing
their past, embracing their present, and visualizing their future is on the path to
living an unconfined life.”
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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