“When I found out I matched into emergency medicine, I think I experienced every emotion possible in a 10-second span,” said osteopathic medical student Destiny Muccigrossi (DO '25) about Match Day at PCOM South Georgia.
“There was excitement, relief, and a bit of disbelief. Mostly, I felt like I had just stepped into a world of organized chaos.”
When Muccigrossi opened her envelope, she discovered that after graduation in May, she would be in a residency program in emergency medicine at Prisma Health at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.
“Emergency medicine is the perfect mix of fast-paced problem-solving and unpredictability, and I can't wait to dive in and handle whatever comes my way,” Muccigrossi said. “Here's to 3 a.m. adrenaline rushes, thinking on my feet, and lots and lots of caffeine.”
That “organized chaos” may not be for everyone, but Muccigrossi thrives on it.
“At PCOM South Georgia, I learned how to think fast, listen deeply, and work hard, all while staying human,” she stated. “I practiced medicine in resource-limited settings, collaborated across specialties, and saw firsthand how osteopathic principles bring added value to patient care. Most importantly, I found my voice as an advocate, as an educator, and as a future emergency physician. I leave PCOM ready not only to succeed in residency but to contribute meaningfully to the teams I join and the patients I serve.”
Muccigrossi said PCOM made sure she was ready for this next step in her career.
“PCOM prepared me for residency by teaching me how to show up when it's hard, and to do it well,” she said. “The curriculum was rigorous, but it was the moments outside the classroom that shaped me the most: organizing community health projects in rural towns, navigating leadership in medical organizations, mentoring future students while managing my own stress and studies. These experiences taught me how to prioritize, adapt, and lead; essential skills for residency.”
For those students just starting medical school, she offers this advice.
“Give yourself permission to be both a learner and a human being,” Muccigrossi said. “It's easy to get caught up in grades, comparison and trying to ‘do it all,’ but the real growth happens in the quiet, unglamorous moments—when you're staying late to help a classmate, or pushing through burnout to show up for a patient. Protect your curiosity. Ask the ‘dumb’ questions. Find people who remind you why you started.”
Muccigrossi also recommends that students build their support system early in their time at medical school.
“Whether it's friends, mentors, therapists or family, you'll need people who can sit with you in the mess and still believe in you,” she said. “And finally, don't wait to make an impact. You don't need to be an attending to change lives. Advocacy, compassion and leadership can start on day one. You're not just here to survive med school. You're here to become the kind of physician the world desperately needs. Own that.”
In 2019, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing PCOM South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, PCOM South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. PCOM is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining PCOM Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, PCOM South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
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Cindy B. Montgomery
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Office of Marketing and Communications
Email: cindymo@pcom.edu
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