In a formal signing ceremony held Sept. 17, officials from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and the South Georgia and Georgia campuses of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) forged a partnership that will allow qualified students in UGA’s Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program to matriculate—with priority status—into medical school at one of the two PCOM campuses.
“We are proud to commit to this unique academic relationship,” said Kelly Smith, dean of UGA’s College of Pharmacy. “This is the first UGA-PCOM partnership, and it will allow for yet another pathway for UGA students interested in a career in medicine and healthcare. We extend our appreciation to PCOM for their role in the creation of this affiliation.”
The affiliation agreement between the two institutions will allow both entities to focus holistically on the needs of students enrolled in the pharmaceutical sciences undergraduate degree who aspire to attend medical school. BSPS students who show promise of becoming excellent osteopathic physicians will receive guided mentorship from PCOM counselors and advisors, who will prepare them for the application and admission processes into the Osteopathic Medicine program.
Under the agreement, PCOM will reserve up to three seats in their medical school each year for qualified UGA students, allowing more secure opportunities for admission. To be admitted, students must satisfy the PCOM undergraduate course requirements, maintain a competitive grade point average, and receive a qualifying Medical College of Admissions Test, or MCAT, score. After four years of rigorous education in PCOM’s medical school, a successful student will earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.
The signing event included faculty and staff from both institutions, including Dean Marla Golden from the South Georgia campus in Moultrie and Dean Andrea Mann from the Georgia campus in Suwanee. Remarked Dean Golden, “Some may see this as a simple agreement being signed. I see it as the future of healthcare in Georgia. The more pathways we can create and provide to students, the bigger the web is for connectivity. In the future, these students will be the staff physicians in hospitals and medical offices throughout our state. They will be the chief medical officers and leaders in their communities. They will create cohesive health care systems and processes together.”
Added Dean Mann, “This partnership represents a significant step toward addressing the healthcare needs of our communities. By providing UGA students with direct access to our medical school programs, we are empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders to succeed in an ever-evolving landscape. We look forward to welcoming these talented students to PCOM Georgia and guiding them on their journey to becoming compassionate, skilled osteopathic physicians.”
In addition to Dean Smith, other key College of Pharmacy officials in attendance included Yaguang Xi, head of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences; Singh Rekhi, director of the BSPS program; Michael Bartlett, associate dean for Science Education, Research, and Technology; and Duc Do, assistant dean for the Office of Student Affairs.
Following the ceremony, leaders from the newly forged partnership met with several undergraduate students who have already expressed an interest in the program. Along with these officials, Peter Le, a third-year medical student at PCOM Georgia, addressed the interested students and shared his unique perspective. As a UGA College of Pharmacy graduate, Le received his BSPS in 2018, his M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2019, and a certificate in International and Biomedical Regulatory Sciences in 2019.
“I am incredibly happy to see an affiliation between PCOM and UGA,” said Le. “I encourage anyone who has medical school on their radar to take advantage of this program. I am thrilled students from the program I proudly graduated from, UGA Pharmaceutical Sciences, will have an opportunity to experience what I have. It has been indescribable.
Sharing his thoughts about PCOM, Le added, “The culture of PCOM is very supportive. I never feel like I am competing with my classmates. Everyone works to help one another. The faculty members are always willing to go above and beyond, and there are faculty/peer mentorship programs that help with the transition into medical school.
To learn more about the UGA-PCOM partnership, contact Dr. Duc Do.
