GA-PCOM Supports Gwinnett Science Fair

March 1, 2017

GA-PCOM faculty members offered words of advice and encouragement to young people participating in the Gwinnett Regional Science Fair. College students and faculty members also served as judges for research posters.

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With the theme, "Ask Why?" the Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair featured research exhibits, educational speakers and a Career Expo for third through 12th graders that filled the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth from top to bottom.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett County Public Schools’ event, Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) supported the fair through time, talent and treasure.

As part of the fair, three GA-PCOM faculty members had the opportunity to speak to the students in breakout sessions. Anatomical donation coordinator Jeff Seiple taught elementary school students the terms of anatomy. Middle school students learned about a physician assistant career from assistant professor Jim Becker, PA-C, while high school students experienced simulation through Jeff Adams, Director of Simulation.

Students and faculty members who served as judges for the research posters included Claribel Adeyemi, (MS ’18); Adwoa Aduonum, PhD; Karla Colon-Matos (MS ’17); Ariana Daftarian (MS ’17); Kim Echols, PharmD; Nicole Hardeman (DO ’17); Ellie Hernandez (MS ’17); Aleksandra Ignatowicz (MS ’17); Mary Owen, JD, PhD; Ali Moradi, MD, MPH; Daryllynn Patterson; Jeff Seiple; Rebekah Thomas, MPA, PharmD, PA-C and Shu Zhu, MD, PhD.

At the Career Expo, School of Pharmacy faculty, residents and students led elementary through high school students in an exercise to teach them how to prepare medications. Volunteers included Keith Johnson (PGY1 Resident); Heejong Lee (PharmD ’17); Brandon Cunningham (PGY1 Resident); Shaghaigh Shahriari (PharmD ‘17); Candis McGraw-Senat, PharmD and Mboya Doffou (PharmD ‘17).

 

GA-PCOM was a sponsor of the Gwinnett Regional Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair in Duluth. The fair was for students in grades 3-12.

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Admissions team members including Darnae Parks, Whitney Brown and Dee Cunturso, along with administrative services and events manager Kim Lucier and Lucas Mallory, (PA ’18) manned GA-PCOM information tables. Marketing and public relations manager Barbara Myers had the opportunity to congratulate the students and parents at lunch events and at the evening awards ceremony.

This year, more than 650 projects, representing 101 schools, created by 865 students who had won first place at the local school level were on display representing the best of student research. This was quite a feat considering the school system is the 13th largest system in the nation and that one of every 10 Georgia public school students attends a Gwinnett County school.

The projects were judged on scientific quality, accuracy, creativity and experimental design. The high school and middle school students who earn first place at the district level competition move to the next round – the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair – which began in Athens, Ga., March 30. The top projects then qualify for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair to be held beginning May 14 in Los Angeles, Calif.

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