EDUCATING FUTUREPHYSICIANS RIGHTHEREIN SOUTH GEORGIA
PCOM South Georgia , Moultrie ’ s local medical school , was established in 2019 to recruit , educate and train students who will practice medicine in rural and underserved areas .
With 16.8 percent of Georgia residents living in rural areas and only 8percent of Georgia physicians practicing in rural areas ( according to the USDA and Graham Center , respectively ), PCOM South Georgia established roots in Moultrie to increase the number of rural providers in the state .
That goal is ashared passion for PCOM South Georgia ’ s faculty and staff , in addition to the students , many of whom are from rural areas and plan to return there after graduation .
According to The American Academy of Family Physicians ( AAFP ), there are three critical ways to increase the number of rural physicians : recruit medical students from rural backgrounds , teach skills needed in rural settings and provide necessary funding for rural medical education .
Dean and Chief Academic Officer , H . William Craver III , DO ’ 87 , has been with PCOM nearly 30 years . He was heavily involved in the creation , development and success of PCOM South Georgia . As an osteopathic physician who practiced in underserved areas , he knows the importance and significance of having a medical school in a rural area .
“ Our presence in Moultrie is an opportunity to demonstrate what osteopathic medicine is all about – community medicine , primary care and serving the underserved ,” Dr . Craver said . “ My experience in rural medicine is why Isee the value of PCOM South Georgia and am so excited for the continued success of the college , our students and the community .”
PCOM South Georgia has been training its students in a rural setting to encourage them to practice in underserved areas . And , in addition to offering articulation and affiliation agreements with regional institutions , the College hosts pathway programs with underrepresented youth and partners with nearby health systems for clinical rotations and post-graduate residency positions .
PCOM . EDU / SOUTHGA
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