The PCOM Georgia Pediatrics Club hosted an event with 10-year-old guest speaker Corvin Byers.
On October 21, the PCOM Georgia Pediatrics Club at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Suwanee, Georgia campus hosted Corvin, a young boy living with Spina Bifida and Chiari malformation, for a "Super Speaker" event.
Corvin shared his experience living with these conditions, his passion for science and his connection to PCOM Georgia that began two years ago when he met Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the Osteopathic Medicine Program, at the Atlanta Science Festival.
“Corvin’s courage in sharing his journey with us is a powerful reminder of why we pursue careers in health care,” said Dr. Mann. “His passion and insight give our students a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with complex conditions.”
Corvin shared both the medical challenges of his condition and the impact it has had on his daily life, including accessibility issues.
“Public restrooms are not always as accessible as they need to be,” he said. “Accessible entryways may be in an odd spot or don’t have an electronic door opener.”
The event gave students a deeper understanding of Spina Bifida and Chiari malformation, bringing to life conditions they may have only read about. Corvin’s story highlighted the importance of compassionate, informed health care, a key part of PCOM Georgia’s mission to train empathetic healthcare professionals.
“People like me are living a lot longer than they used to,” Corvin said. “I hope some of you will learn more about it so when I am older I can find a good doctor to take care of me.”
The event concluded with Corvin being presented with a personalized white coat and stethoscope as a thank you from the College for sharing his story.
The PCOM Georgia Pediatrics Club is composed of students from the following programs: Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Pharmacy (PharmD), Physical Therapy (DPT), Physician Assistant Studies (MS in Health Sciences), and Biomedical Sciences (MS).
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.
Jamesia Harrison, MS
Assistant Director, News and Media Relations
Email: jamesiaha@pcom.edu
Office: 678-225-7532 | Cell: 470-572-7558
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