Derek George grew up as the middle of nine children on the outskirts of Lancaster, Ohio. One of his brothers passed away at the age of 19. Losing his brother made George realize how short life can be. He also realized that “if you have the capacity, abilities and an innate desire to help others, you should do it.”
Even though George considered pursuing a career in medicine after high school, he lacked the self-confidence and did not believe he was smart enough to do so. Instead, George studied software design, but never received a degree in the subject. He then spent a decade working in retail sales.
When he met his wife Sharon, she posed a very important question.
“She asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and I told her my aspirations of pursuing a career in medicine,” George said. “She told me to quit my job and go back to school. I did, and I haven’t looked back since.”
He began working on a bachelor of science degree in 2014, graduating in 2018 from the University of South Carolina-Beaufort.
“Admittedly, I didn’t know much about osteopathic medicine, and I didn’t get accepted to medical school my first year out of undergrad,” George said. “In talking with mentors who were DOs and learning the osteopathic philosophy, I knew that when I reapplied to medical school, I was only going to apply to osteopathic schools. Before medical school, I never felt I was fully challenged. I wanted something that would test my limits and push my personal boundaries, all while allowing me to provide support, comfort and solutions to others.”
George’s second attempt was successful, and he chose to attend medical school in Moultrie.
“I chose PCOM South Georgia for a couple reasons but mainly because of the reputation that PCOM holds as an institution of excellence,” he said. “Having that reputation, while being in a rural community and being a newer campus was very appealing. I love the fact that with a new campus there are many opportunities to grow alongside your school. Over the four years at PCOM South Georgia, our class has seen and even provided suggestions to help the school grow. Many of those suggestions are utilized today and it lets me know that myself and our class have had a lasting impact. The rural area and smaller class size make it feel more like a family. The support from the community has been instrumental in shaping us into amazing future physicians.”
While a student at PCOM South Georgia, George served as a student ambassador.
“I love helping others in whatever capacity that may be, and the ambassador program gave me the opportunity to interact with potential and future students of PCOM South Georgia,” he said. “I enjoyed attending virtual interviews to answer questions and talk praises of the school, as well as interacting with incoming students on accepted student day. I also enjoyed any activities and opportunities to hang out with my classmates, whether it was studying in a group or playing ultimate frisbee at the Y.”
For other PCOM South Georgia students, George offers some suggestions.
“My biggest advice is to let it all out and try to be the best, authenticate version of you there is,” he said. “There are times you will fail, but these provide the best learning opportunity. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and challenge yourself. Be open-minded in all that you do and be willing to take every opportunity that comes your way. During your clinical rotations, don’t be afraid to ask to do something, even if you have never done it before. The worst a preceptor can say is ‘no.’ If they do say ‘no,’ don’t take it personally as there will most likely be another opportunity. Your preceptors will never let you fail with disastrous results. Their duty and your duty are always to put the patient first.”
For inspiration, George turns to his family. The son of Kathy and Gary, he is the husband of Sharon; stepfather of, Jakob, 15; and father of Oliver, 6, and Lucy, 4.
“My inspiration has always come from my family, especially my father,” George said. “He has always been the wisest man I know, but I am now seeing the sheer grit and determination he possesses. He is the survivor of a massive stroke and has progressed beyond expectation. I aspire to have a fraction of the will and determination he has.”
After graduating from PCOM South Georgia on May 16, George’s next step is a one-year surgery prelim at Mount Carmel Health in Columbus, Ohio, and then a residency in interventional radiology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.
“A lot can change between now and the six years of residency, but the one thing I would like to accomplish after residency is to bring something unique and not typically available to many in terms of care to a rural area,” he said. “Ultimately, my wife has the final say where we end up as she has sacrificed so much to allow me to pursue my dreams, but we have both considered the idea of bringing specialized care to rural areas. Maybe even Moultrie, Georgia.”
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