GA-PCOM Launches Opportunities Academy
July 6, 2017
GA-PCOM's new Opportunities Academy allowed local high school students interested
in future healthcare careers a chance to learn more about the profession. The program's
primary goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in healthcare
fields, organizers said.
This summer, Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee kicked off a new program for local high school students interested in
healthcare careers. In partnership with Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Berkmar and
Meadowcreek high schools, the Opportunities Academy was held from June 19-30. The
two-week program was designed to serve as a pipeline to guide motivated students toward
training and careers in the fields of science and medicine.
Second-year DO student Claire Dorcent, who led the program as Student Coordinator,
explained, “Our main goal was to increase the number of underrepresented minorities
in the healthcare fields.”
At the end of their first week of camp, the Opportunities Academy students took a
field trip to the Shepherd Center, which is a private, not-for-profit hospital in
Atlanta that specializes in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people
with neuromuscular conditions.
With a busy schedule of activities directed by volunteer GA-PCOM students, faculty
and staff, the Opportunities Academy students enjoyed interactive labs and dissections
in the College’s Anatomy Lab, diagnosed robot-patients in the new Simulation Center, took field trips to the Shepherd Center and Bodies: The Exhibition in Atlanta, attended
discussions with guest lecturers, practiced Tai Chi, learned about applying to college
and health professional programs, and explored various subjects from cardiology to
infectious diseases to neuroscience.
GA-PCOM's Opportunities Academy students learned about the major structures of the
brain from Dr. Adwoa Aduonum in the Anatomy Lab.
“We want to engage and get the kids excited about the endless possibilities that are
out there for them, through exposure to ourselves and other healthcare professionals,”
Dorcent added.
On the last day of the Opportunities Academy, the high school students received certificates
of completion from the College and white coats from their GA-PCOM mentors at a graduation
ceremony attended by family and friends. Capt. Kenneth L. Dominguez, MD, MPH (USPHS),
Medical Epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control, was featured as the ceremony’s
keynote speaker. The inaugural class of Opportunities Academy graduates also presented
clinical cases in front of those in attendance, and all enjoyed refreshments at the
ceremony’s conclusion.
Other partners included CSL Behring, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the 3M Foundation,
and the VWR Foundation.
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About PCOM Georgia
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private,
not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education with a storied 125-year
history dedicated to the healthcare professions. 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.
Contact Us
Jamesia Harrison, MS
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Email: jamesiaha@pcom.edu
Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell: 470-572-7558
Connect with PCOM Georgia