PCOM Georgia Partners With UGA College of Pharmacy 
New Pathway for DO Students

September 27, 2024

Marla Golden, DO ’88 (left), Kelly Smith, PharmD (center), and Andrea Mann, DO (right) sign an affiliation agreement between PCOM and University of Georgia. Photo credit: UGA College of Pharmacy

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Students who graduate from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) will find it easier to enroll in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at either PCOM Georgia or PCOM South Georgia as part of a new partnership.

“Some may see this as a simple agreement being signed,” said Marla Golden, DO ’88, dean of the osteopathic medical program at PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie. “I see it as the future of health care in Georgia. The more pathways we can create and provide to students, the bigger the web is for connectivity. In the future, these students will be the staff physicians in hospitals and medical offices throughout our state. They will be the chief medical officers and leaders in their communities. They will create cohesive healthcare systems and processes together.”

Under the agreement, BSPS students who demonstrate the potential for excelling as osteopathic physicians will receive guided mentorship from PCOM counselors and advisors, who will prepare them for the application and admission processes into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. PCOM will reserve up to three seats in their medical school on each campus per year for qualified UGA students. To be admitted, students must satisfy the PCOM undergraduate course requirements, maintain a competitive grade point average, and receive a qualifying Medical College of Admissions Test (MCAT) score. Earning a DO degree at PCOM usually takes four years.

“We are proud to commit to this unique academic relationship,” said Kelly Smith, PharmD, dean of UGA’s College of Pharmacy. “This is the first UGA-PCOM partnership, and it will allow for yet another pathway for UGA students interested in a career in medicine and health care. We extend our appreciation to PCOM for their role in the creation of this affiliation.” 

Representatives from the UGA College of Pharmacy, PCOM Georgia, and PCOM South Georgia signed the formal agreement on the UGA campus in September.

“This partnership represents a significant step toward addressing the healthcare needs of our communities,” said Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP, dean and chief academic officer of the osteopathic medicine program at PCOM Georgia. “By providing UGA students with direct access to our medical school programs, we are empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders to succeed in an ever-evolving landscape. We look forward to welcoming these talented students to PCOM Georgia and guiding them on their journey to becoming compassionate, skilled osteopathic physicians.”

Following the signing ceremony, PCOM leaders met with several UGA undergraduate students who already expressed interest in the program. Along with these officials, Peter Le (DO '26), a third-year medical student at PCOM Georgia, addressed the interested students.

A UGA College of Pharmacy graduate, Le received his BSPS in 2018, his master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2019, and a certificate in International and Biomedical Regulatory Sciences in 2019.

“I am incredibly happy to see an affiliation between PCOM and UGA,” said Le. “I encourage anyone who has medical school on their radar to take advantage of this program. I am thrilled students from the program I proudly graduated from, UGA Pharmaceutical Sciences, will have an opportunity to experience what I have. It has been indescribable.”

Le spoke very positively about his time at PCOM Georgia.

“The culture of PCOM is very supportive,” he said. “I never feel like I am competing with my classmates. Everyone works to help one another. The faculty members are always willing to go above and beyond, and there are faculty/peer mentorship programs that help with the transition into medical school.”

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