PCOM Georgia students use mannequins to train how to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations.
Ali Moradi, MD, PCOM Georgia director of primary care skills for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, and second year student-doctor Emma Little (DO ’23) recently spoke to Fox 5 Atlanta TV reporter Janice Yu about PCOM Georgia’s student readiness to help administer COVID-19 vaccines.
The pair were interviewed following a change in curriculum across Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s three campuses that now allows first and second year DO students to learn to vaccinate. The shift was made to provide more resources during this critical time in the fight against the virus.
Little explained that students use mannequins in their training which follows the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. She said, “Students are really looking forward to getting out and having that clinical experience.” She explained that opportunities in the community involve shifts of about five hours. “We can give five hours during our week to help the community,” she said.
Dr. Moradi said the new volunteers – nearly 300 strong – are eager to help in the vaccination effort. “They want to give back to the community. They want to give back to the individual. That’s their goal in becoming a physician,” he said.
He noted that the need for volunteers will grow as the vaccine supply grows, especially as Georgia opens mass vaccination sites across the state. Moradi explained that the students volunteer their time and skills which helps to reduce the cost and speed of administering vaccines in Georgia.
The students have contributed towards helping the community combat the effects of the pandemic since its beginning by raising money for personal protective equipment, collecting supplies and administering COVID-19 tests, Yu reported.
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.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.
© 2025 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
