PCOM Perspectives

For this episode, I was joined by Art Sesso, DO ‘81, interim dean of the doctor of osteopathic medicine program at PCOM and senior associate dean of osteopathic curricula innovation and accountability. Dr. Sesso and I discuss how, under his leadership, PCOM is responding to a rapidly evolving health landscape through the development of the first-in-the-nation Medical Education Center of Excellence (MECOE). This innovative approach to medical education strengthens our ability to train the next generation of osteopathic physicians and ensures our students are prepared to enter the next phase of their careers after graduation.

Through the work of Dr. Sesso and others, PCOM is set up to compete well into the future. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

For this episode, I sat down with Scott Glassman, PsyD, director of PCOM’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program, consultant for the Family Medicine department at PCOM, and author of the book A Happier You: A Seven-Week Program to Transform Negative Thinking into Positivity and Resilience. Dr. Glassman and I discussed the unique qualities of the MAPP program, the benefits of access to the Happier You program for patients in our Healthcare Centers, and the growing movement to help people understand and learn more about the power of focusing on personal strengths and the positive side of life.

PCOM has made a concerted effort to expand mental health resources for students, faculty and staff, and Dr. Glassman and I spent part of our conversation discussing the importance of building on those efforts, particularly for students. We also examined the culture of PCOM and why it continues to be a place that fosters camaraderie, collegiality and collaboration, and the broader mood of the region and what makes Philadelphia such a dynamic place to live. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

The latest episode of PCOM Perspectives, our podcast exploring news and events on campus and news of the day through the PCOM lens, is now live.

This episode features a discussion with Jim Matney, CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie. Mr. Matney has been an advocate and supporter of PCOM’s expansion into South Georgia since it was merely a concept. And since PCOM South Georgia began its first academic year in 2019, Mr. Matney has encouraged local community organizations and government agencies to support the mission of PCOM South Georgia.

Now, in our fourth academic year in South Georgia, many of our medical students are completing their clinical clerkships at Colquitt Regional, and a handful of PCOM Georgia graduates have completed or are completing their residencies at the hospital’s Georgia South Family Medicine Residency Program.

During this episode, we discuss the changes that we’ve seen in Southwest Georgia’s healthcare landscape over the last five years, what we hope to see in the future and how our partnerships are benefiting the region.

This month I sat down with Christy Finley, EdD, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at PCOM, to discuss updates on the College’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, including among others the launch of our student DEI certificate and the Student Diversity Diplomats program, a new initiative at PCOM Georgia to engage students in a range of diversity-related programs and events, both on campus and in the surrounding community.

As laid out in our strategic plan, PCOM 2025: Path to Greater Excellence, DEI is a core component of who we are – and strive to be – as an institution. My discussion with Dr. Finley highlighted the ways in which we are working to embed DEI in our curriculum, policies, processes and practices, most notably the numerous DEI workshops available to faculty and staff throughout the year; Diversity/LGBTQIA Councils; informal colleague resource groups such as Supporting One Another as we Rise (SOAR); and the annual Opportunities Academies available on each campus location.

Our College has made and continues to make great strides in our DEI efforts, but it’s people that make diversity, equity and inclusion happen. This important work must be backed up by commitment and action, and through the work of Dr. Finley and so many others, we are doing just that.

This episode features a discussion with PCOM leaders Joanne Jones and Alisa Toney about the importance of being involved in the communities in which we live, work and play.

Joanne, the Chief of Campus Operations at PCOM South Georgia, serves as the chair of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. Alisa, the Senior Director of Development at PCOM, is the chair of the Leadership Gwinnett Foundation Board of Directors. In addition, she serves on the Northside Gwinnett Women’ Leadership Council and on the board of the Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park in Atlanta.

During our discussion, we talked about the steps it takes to be entrusted with community leadership opportunities and how positions like these benefit both the volunteer and the College.

We also discussed how the College supports our PCOM family who volunteer in their communities through the President’s Community Wellness Initiative. And I shared about some of the leadership positions I have enjoyed through the years beginning with my students days.

Our students, faculty and staff members have so much to offer our communities and I appreciate and applaud your efforts. As Margaret Mead so famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

This month I sat down to discuss PCOM’s clinical clerkships with Michael Becker, DO, associate dean of clinical education at PCOM and Marla Golden, DO, associate dean of clinical education at PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia.

The clinical clerkship programs, led by Dr. Becker and Dr. Golden, provides third- and fourth-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine students with the opportunity to examine, evaluate and provide care for patients. The development of these clinical skills helps students prepare for national board examinations and, ultimately, the practice of medicine. It is because of our outstanding preceptors and faculty members that we have an array of clinical education opportunities for our students.

I encourage you to take a listen to this episode as we provide tips and advice for students preparing for their clinical clerkships, look back on how clerkships have changed over the years and highlight the importance that these rotations have on our students’ education and careers.

In this podcast, we focus on PCOM’s Women in Medicine – both students and professionals. We’ve turned the table this time as one of our students serves as the host of the podcast.

Join us as Victoria Troncoso, DO and Savita Arya, MD, discuss their personal role models and obstacles they’ve faced along their journey to becoming physicians. I will talk about how women at PCOM impact my leadership decisions, and Kate Minke (DO ’25) will discuss what she most looks forward to as a woman studying to become a healthcare professional.

Dr. Troncoso serves as chair of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at PCOM Georgia. Dr. Arya is a professor of pathology at PCOM South Georgia, and Kate is a member of the PCOM DO class of 2025 and the co-president of PCOM’s American Medical Women’s Association student chapter.

The latest episode of PCOM Perspectives, our podcast exploring news and events on campus and news of the day through the PCOM lens, is now live.

I encourage you to take a listen to this episode as I speak with Jason Walker, PhD, associate professor of physiology at PCOM South Georgia about student burnout. During our time together, we discuss why so many students are experiencing burnout, how to know the difference between stress, burnout and depression and the resources PCOM provides.

As the PCOM community continues to face the lasting impacts of a global pandemic, coupled with the stress of professional school, it’s imperative that we keep mental health at the forefront of our minds and conversations. If you feel that you are experiencing burnout, please reach out to your campus counselor by visiting https://www.pcom.edu/student-life/student-affairs/counseling/.

In this podcast, we focus on PCOM’s latest degree offering – Medical Laboratory Science. Join us as Karen Giddens, MLS, the director of the Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science program, and I discuss this program in depth.

Karen has been a practicing medical laboratory scientist for more than 20 years. She has a wide variety of experience in the field, as well as in the academic arena

During our discussion, we touch on the critical role that a medical laboratory scientist plays behind the scenes in helping to diagnose and treat patients. We discuss the wide variety of job opportunities available for a certified medical laboratory scientist, and how our program is structured for both pre-professional and post-professional students.

We are excited to begin this hybrid program at PCOM Georgia this fall and are now accepting applications. To learn more, visit the pcom.edu website.

This episode features fourth year Doctor of Pharmacy students Ruth Pierre (PharmD ’22) and Mahlet Wole (PharmD ’22). They both completed one-month rotations at PCOM’s Office of Family Medicine in Philadelphia working alongside healthcare providers and medical student colleagues.

They practiced patient-facing skills, including counseling patients about their medications. They also reviewed patient prescription lists, and worked with attending physicians to ensure that patient prescription plans accurately reflected the needs of the patients. While in Philadelphia, they lived at the Meta Christy House, our new, on-campus housing.

Ruth and Mahlet provided us with recommendations on how they would make this interprofessional experience even better and how pharmacy students can better prepare for this experience. They also explained how they will take this intense experience with them following graduation in May.

I opined on the role I see pharmacists playing in the primary care setting of the future and added my thoughts on how the pharmacy curriculum can provide more opportunities for students to work in an interprofessional setting.