b'HEALTHCAREShaping the RegionPCOM Finds New Home in South Georgia I f you want to change the future, the time to start is now. While the declining accessibility to healthcare professionals has been a topic of conversation in rural communities for years, leaders in South Georgia moved from talking to action.In 2016, representatives from Colquitt Regional Medical Center (CRMC), the South Georgia Medical Education and Research Consortium, and the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority, along with multiple local visionaries, approached leadership from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) about the feasibility of establishing an additional location in South Georgia.We had established a beneficial relationshipprogram opened the door even further forstate leaders in bringing the first four-year with regional healthcare providers manydiscussions to continue about placing amedical school to the region. years ago through a rural rotation footprintmedical college in the South Georgia region.for our third and fourth year DO students,Speaking from the region that literally says Joanne Jones, campus officer forIn 2017, PCOM received approval fromfeeds, clothes and provides not only our PCOM South Georgia. Then, graduatesthe American Osteopathic Association tostate but our nation and the rest of the from our Suwanee, Georgia, campus whoestablish an additional location in Colquittworld, says Kemp. Im proud to say that were from the South Georgia region wantedCounty.the state saw how training world-class to complete their residency training indoctors in Moultrie could be a real game-On a 31-acre site, the PCOM South Georgiachanger for our region, and we have hospitals closer to home.campus includes a 75,000-square-foot supported this effort. But it was you all that facility that was completed in August 2019, PCOM is the starting point; it represents uncharted territory. Because PCOM is here in our community, we are already seeing interest from companies that need employees with science-based degrees.- BARBARA GROGANThe residency training became a realitygot the ball started, and were honored to just in time to welcome the first class ofbe a part of it.when CRMC joined with the consortium59 doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) (a partnership of five independentstudents. The Next Generationhealthcare systems) and opened a familyWith a competitive admissions process, medicine residency program in Moultrie.With more than 700 in attendance at Next Generation: Aliza Perez, from Miami, Florida, is one 59 doctor of osteopathic medicine students at PCOM South Georgiathe ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gov. Brianmore than 3,000 students were vying The establishment of this first residencyfor the 59 slots available at PCOM South Kemp applauded the efforts of local and 24 SG MAGAZINE | WINTER 2020 BUSINESS + CULTURE 25'