Community service has always been a passion for Mustafa Ansari (DO '27) and Mutasem Shopon (DO '27). The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students met at orientation week at PCOM Georgia and instantly bonded over their shared interest in serving their local communities.
Seeing how their charitable work had benefited the local community in Georgia, the students were inspired to serve on an international level and decided to support those in dire need of basic necessities, such as clean water, to foster empowerment across Pakistan to rejuvenate and cultivate growth.
Through networking with local grassroot organizations and a social media fundraising campaign with the PAANI Project, Ansari and Shopon raised $3,000 to fund the construction of eleven water wells in Pakistan, providing clean drinking water to over 1,000 individuals in some of the country's most deserving areas.
“You can’t solve all of the world’s problems, but this gave us an opportunity to start somewhere,” said Shopon. “Being able to see the impact these wells have had on the local villages has reinforced my belief in empathy and the importance of collaboration in helping others.”
In recognition of PCOM Georgia's commitment to service, the students dedicated one of the newly-constructed wells in the name of the College.
“We are deeply grateful for the encouragement and support we continue to receive from PCOM Georgia when it comes to community service,” said Ansari. “We're proud to have our work serve as testament to the impact PCOM students can have on a global scale.”
The PAANI Project reports that there are currently over 21 million people in Pakistan that suffer from a water sanitation crisis. While major cities like Karachi and Lahore struggle to provide access to clean and safe drinking water, the situation is much worse in rural villages that not only lack modern systems, but also adequate healthcare.
Ansari and Shopon found it poetic to be able to reflect on the 9-month initiative during the holy month of Ramadan, a time dedicated to prayer, reflection, and charity. “This experience has given us a new perspective on what it means to serve others and we feel so fortunate to be able to help others on both an individual level and within their broader communities.”
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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Gabrielle DePietro
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: gabrielde2@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304
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