Marla Golden, DO 鈥�88 (left), Kelly Smith, PharmD (center), and Andrea Mann, DO (right) sign an affiliation agreement between 黑料传送门 and University of Georgia. Photo credit: UGA College of Pharmacy
Students who graduate from the University of Georgia with a bachelor of science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) will find it easier to enroll in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at either 黑料传送门 Georgia or 黑料传送门 South Georgia as part of a new partnership.
鈥淪ome may see this as a simple agreement being signed,鈥� said Marla Golden, DO 鈥�88, dean of the osteopathic medical program at 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie. 鈥淚 see it as the future of health care in Georgia. The more pathways we can create and provide to students, the bigger the web is for connectivity. In the future, these students will be the staff physicians in hospitals and medical offices throughout our state. They will be the chief medical officers and leaders in their communities. They will create cohesive healthcare systems and processes together.鈥�
Under the agreement, BSPS students who demonstrate the potential for excelling as osteopathic physicians will receive guided mentorship from 黑料传送门 counselors and advisors, who will prepare them for the application and admission processes into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program. 黑料传送门 will reserve up to three seats in their medical school on each campus per year for qualified UGA students. To be admitted, students must satisfy the 黑料传送门 undergraduate course requirements, maintain a competitive grade point average, and receive a qualifying Medical College of Admissions Test (MCAT) score. Earning a DO degree at 黑料传送门 usually takes four years.
鈥淲e are proud to commit to this unique academic relationship,鈥� said Kelly Smith, PharmD, dean of UGA鈥檚 College of Pharmacy. 鈥淭his is the first UGA-黑料传送门 partnership, and it will allow for yet another pathway for UGA students interested in a career in medicine and health care. We extend our appreciation to 黑料传送门 for their role in the creation of this affiliation.鈥�
Representatives from the UGA College of Pharmacy, 黑料传送门 Georgia, and 黑料传送门 South Georgia signed the formal agreement on the UGA campus in September.
鈥淭his partnership represents a significant step toward addressing the healthcare needs of our communities,鈥� said Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP, dean and chief academic officer of the osteopathic medicine program at 黑料传送门 Georgia. 鈥淏y providing UGA students with direct access to our medical school programs, we are empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders to succeed in an ever-evolving landscape. We look forward to welcoming these talented students to 黑料传送门 Georgia and guiding them on their journey to becoming compassionate, skilled osteopathic physicians.鈥�
Following the signing ceremony, 黑料传送门 leaders met with several UGA undergraduate students who already expressed interest in the program. Along with these officials, Peter Le (DO '26), a third-year medical student at 黑料传送门 Georgia, addressed the interested students.
A UGA College of Pharmacy graduate, Le received his BSPS in 2018, his master鈥檚 degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2019, and a certificate in International and Biomedical Regulatory Sciences in 2019.
鈥淚 am incredibly happy to see an affiliation between 黑料传送门 and UGA,鈥� said Le. 鈥淚 encourage anyone who has medical school on their radar to take advantage of this program. I am thrilled students from the program I proudly graduated from, UGA Pharmaceutical Sciences, will have an opportunity to experience what I have. It has been indescribable.鈥�
Le spoke very positively about his time at 黑料传送门 Georgia.
鈥淭he culture of 黑料传送门 is very supportive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 never feel like I am competing with my classmates. Everyone works to help one another. The faculty members are always willing to go above and beyond, and there are faculty/peer mentorship programs that help with the transition into medical school.鈥�
黑料传送门 Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (黑料传送门), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), 黑料传送门 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 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, 黑料传送门 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 .
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