Macy Rowan grew up in a family of healthcare professionals. Her mother is a registered nurse, and her dad is a pharmacist. Rowan grew up understanding the ins and outs of the healthcare career field. She realized that field was meant for her.
Not only did Rowan realize that she wanted to be a doctor, but she knew where she wanted to be a doctor.
“I grew up witnessing the challenges many South Georgians faced by being rural and medically underserved,” she said. “When I heard a medical school was opening here to address these issues, I knew I wanted to be a part of it! I chose PCOM South Georgia because it is close to my hometown of Valdosta, Georgia, and the school is embedded directly in the heart of the region I'd like to serve one day.”
Rowan based her decision to pursue osteopathic medicine on the kind of care she plans to provide her patients.
“I knew I wanted to be a physician after learning from my own primary care physician and multiple shadowing opportunities in undergrad,” she said. “Being particularly interested in providing for rural, underserved populations, I chose to pursue osteopathic medicine based on the holistic approach this program endorses. I knew underserved populations needed this approach as barriers to their healthcare went beyond the most obvious of access into more intricate social determinants of health, such as food insecurity and health literacy.”
As a student at PCOM South Georgia, Rowan participated in a variety of different activities.
“During my preclinical years, I was president of our Local Community Outreach Club
and vice president of our Student Ambassador program,” she said. “I did my clinical
rotations at South Georgia Medical Center in my hometown of Valdosta, where I was
able to learn hands-on and meet some incredible mentors.”
After graduation, Rowan plans to stay close to home.
“I will be remaining in Moultrie to complete my family medicine residency at Georgia South Family Medicine at Colquitt Regional Medical Center, and I hope to stay in South Georgia after to practice medicine,” she said. “Ultimately, I want to reach underserved populations by being a diligent, empathetic physician. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with my patients to manage their chronic and acute illnesses. I am eager to serve the region that I have been blessed enough to call home for my entire life.”
Rowan said she draws inspiration from the people around her and her faith.
“My family, friends and mentors inspire me, as they have supported me throughout this entire journey,” she said. “Above all, Christ inspires me. As a Christian, my faith defines who I am and inspires me daily to serve and love others as Christ loves us. I believe God has given me a gift to be able to practice medicine, and I am excited to use that gift every day to impact lives.”
Plus, there's another Dr. Rowan in the family – her twin sister. Both earned bachelor's degrees from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Athens. Earlier this month, her twin sister, Morgan, graduated from the UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine. Now the Rowan family will have an osteopathic doctor and a veterinarian.
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