As the clock struck noon on Thursday, September 16, the atrium at 黑料传送门 Georgia quieted as students prepared to honor their first patients.
Andrea Mann, DO, FAAP, dean of osteopathic medicine, addressed the students. She said, 鈥淵our patients made the ultimate sacrifice for you. They allowed themselves to be vulnerable. And, you, in turn, cared for your patients with empathy, compassion, patience and honor. Today, we are able to step back and recall what these beautiful people have given us.
鈥淭hank you, donors, for being there for our students. We are forever grateful.鈥�
Students, faculty and staff members gathered to recognize the twenty individuals who donated their bodies as silent teachers to further the medical education of 277 future healthcare providers.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine class representative Candice Tate (DO 鈥�24), who led the planning of the ceremony,
expressed her gratitude for the hands-on learning the donors provided.
鈥淥ur books cannot replicate the masterwork of the human body. These donors have been our first patients and the greatest teachers. They have taught us the meaning of being human, both anatomically and spiritually.鈥�
Jeff Seiple, the director of anatomical donor services for 黑料传送门 Georgia, said, 鈥淚 would like to especially thank each family member of our donors, personally, for their confidence and endorsement of our college鈥檚 body donation program.
鈥淵ou have entrusted your most precious possession with us. Because of this, we are full of gratitude and even humbled by your loved one鈥檚 gift and generosity.鈥�
He noted that the donors have been teachers for about 135 medical students, 32 physician assistant students, 40 physical therapy students and 70 biomedical sciences students.
鈥淲hat an incredible legacy to pass on to the next generation of healthcare providers,鈥� he said.
Libby Lirette (DO 鈥�24) shared a poem she had penned. An excerpt poignantly expressed the students鈥� sentiments.
鈥淏ut what a gift to leave, to give
You gave a part of yourself to help people you鈥檇 never meet
You chose to be vulnerable
And for that we give thanks
We thank our donors and their families
For such a precious gift
We started as strangers excited to learn
To identify, to discover, and to be better prepared to heal
To some of us you were our first patient
The one who helped us finally understand what we couldn鈥檛 in class
To see the connections that models can鈥檛 imitate
Your body, your life, your gift
Is one of a kind
Just like each of our future patients.鈥�
As part of the ceremony, students planted marigolds to be given to someone who has
been an integral part of their educational journey.
According to Tate, marigolds are often linked to the sun, representing power, strength and the light that lives inside a person. In addition, she said, marigolds are used as a way to remember individuals who are no longer with us.
鈥淲e felt that the symbolism of the marigold coupled with the idea of growth was perfect for today鈥檚 ceremony. The selfless sacrifice of our donors has allowed us growth as future healthcare professionals.
鈥淟et the giving of the marigolds be a reminder of what our donors have given to us.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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