The doctor of physical therapy’s inaugural class of 40 students will begin orientation next week at GA-PCOM.
At the dedication ceremony for the new Physical Therapy Education Center at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM), Physical Therapy Department Chair Phillip Palmer, PT, PhD, shared a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. He said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
In the 456 days since ground was broken for the center, Palmer said, “These facilities were designed and are equipped to provide excellence in education to the students who have chosen PCOM for fulfilling their dreams of becoming physical therapists.”
Next week, 40 students, members of the inaugural physical therapy class, will participate in orientation before starting classes on June 4, 2018. The class is made up of 90 percent Georgians, with the remaining class members coming from Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Palmer invoked the staircase theme when he said, “I believe the staircase will lead to well-educated, compassionate physical therapists who embrace excellence and integrity, who understand the 'whole person' approach to health care, commit themselves to the advancement of knowledge and intellectual growth, and engage in the well-being of the community.”
Adapting General Electric’s old slogan, President Jay Feldstein said, “We bring good ideas to reality,” noting that a tremendous amount of teamwork allowed the 12,000-square-foot facility to be built on time and in budget. An additional 8,000 square feet will be utilized for research space.
The ceremony was concluded with the cutting of ribbon stretched symbolically between two walkers. A reception and tours followed the ceremony.
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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