Medical Student and Niece of “The Killing Fields” Actor Visits Cambodia on Relief
Trip Women in Medicine Month
September 26, 2024
When PCOM Georgia medical student Brooke Demetri (DO '27) was presented with the opportunity to join
a medical relief trip to Cambodia, she knew she couldn’t turn it down.
As the daughter of a Khmer Rouge genocide survivor and the great niece of a heroic
physician turned Academy Award-winning actor, Brooke has always had a connection to
both Cambodia and the study of medicine, and knew this trip would have a lasting impact on her career as a medical provider.
Brooke’s great uncle, Dr. Haing S. Ngor, was a gynecologist and obstetrician during
the 1975 Khmer Rouge regime, who later won an Academy Award for his role portraying
journalist Dith Pran in the biographical drama film, The Killing Fields.
This summer, Brooke joined with fellow students in providing medical services to over
500 patients in Cambodia. The experience allowed Brooke to not only honor her family's
legacy and meet some of her relatives for the first time, but also continue her great
uncle’s work of providing critical care to those in underserved communities.
You can read more about Brooke Demetri’s recent journey to Cambodia in the Gwinnett Daily Post.
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private,
not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education with a storied 125-year
history dedicated to the healthcare professions. 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.
Contact Us
Jamesia Harrison, MS Assistant Director, News and Media Relations Email: jamesiaha@pcom.edu Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell: 470-572-7558