GA-PCOM was the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Gwinnett Science Fair.
With the theme “Believe in our Future,” the 40th annual Gwinnett Science, Engineering + Innovation Fair showcased the talent, creativity and capability of students in Gwinnett’s public and private middle and high schools on Friday, February 23, 2018, at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.
As the presenting sponsor, Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) was represented in break-out discussion sessions, at the Career Expo, at the College Fair, at the Innovation in Action Showcase, and as project judges. In addition, Chief Campus Officer Bryan Ginn was given the opportunity to welcome the students to the fair’s luncheon and present an award to the overall winner at an evening award ceremony.
Ginn said, “It has been unbelievably invigorating to witness first-hand the projects and topics you students have explored with your intellect and your energies.” He said he saw topics of study like the “Structural Sequence Analysis of Universal Ribosomal Proteins” and the “Expression of Arginase in Colitis during Recovery.” He mentioned research projects like a study on the absorption of aspirin in the body, and on water quality and the uses of natural resources in consumer goods manufacturing.
Earlier in the day, Director of Anatomical Donor Services Jeff Seiple led high school students in a discussion on the importance of the language of anatomy, and Director of Simulation Jeff Adams gave an overview to middle school students on the emerging field of simulation. Assistant Professor of Anatomy Dr. Abigail Hielscher was part of a Women of STEM panel and discussed her journey of earning a PhD, conducting research on breast cancer and teaching at a medical college.
Led by assistant professors Dr. Jayden Lee, Dr. Essie Samuel and Dr. Candis McGraw-Senat in the department of pharmacy practice, seven third- and fourth-year pharmacy students worked with middle and high school students to count candy M&Ms into specially developed “prescription bottles” and insert powder into “capsules” to provide a taste of what it’s like to practice pharmacy.
Several GA-PCOM faculty members, along with other selected community members judged more than 500 projects in the exhibit hall in categories such as life science; earth, energy and the environment; physical science; and math, computing and engineering.
At the awards ceremony, Ginn encouraged students by saying, “Society needs you in the sciences. Society needs you in engineering. Society needs you to become innovators and to set the stage for all of our futures … Because of each and every one of you—I believe in our future!”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. 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.
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