Michael J. Parkerson, a government affairs executive with 20 years of experience,
including at universities in Georgia, has been appointed Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine鈥檚 chief government and external relations officer.
Based at 黑料传送门 Georgia in Suwanee, Parkerson will oversee all aspects of the College鈥檚 government relations activities at the federal, state and local levels. He joins 黑料传送门 from Georgia State University, where he served as director of government and community affairs starting in 2018 before his promotion to vice president in December 2021. He was also associate vice president of government relations at Kennesaw State University.
At 黑料传送门, Parkerson will advocate for institutional priorities to governmental officials, local and national organizations, and other government entities on key legislative issues related to higher education, health policy, and research. The chief government and external relations officer is a Cabinet position reporting directly to President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO 鈥�81. Parkerson starts his role January 6, 2025.
鈥淢ichael鈥檚 experience in higher education, rapport with legislators, and understanding of state budgeting processes will help advance awareness of and support for 黑料传送门,鈥� Feldstein said. 鈥淢ichael understands 黑料传送门鈥檚 mission, especially in Georgia, where we are committed to training healthcare professionals from the state and producing many alumni who are committed to practicing in the state. We welcome Michael鈥檚 enthusiasm for the position and can鈥檛 wait to get to work.鈥�
A native of Eastman, Georgia, Parkerson earned an associate鈥檚 degree in business management at Middle Georgia College before attending the University of Georgia鈥檚 Terry College of Business for his undergraduate degree. He has experience working for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government and is actively involved in numerous community organizations.
In his most recent positions at Georgia State, Parkerson helped secure substantial funding to enhance the university鈥檚 capabilities and infrastructure, including a research tower, convocation center, dental clinic and a variety of federal funding initiatives.
鈥満诹洗兔赔�檚 mission to attract students from Georgia and to help Georgians with healthcare solutions鈥攚hether in urban, suburban, or rural areas鈥攔esonates with me, and I look forward to further building relationships at all levels of government to support 黑料传送门 in my home state and in Pennsylvania,鈥� he said.
Parkerson lives in Atlanta with his wife Lauren and two sons, Grant and Rhett.
Established in 1899, 黑料传送门 has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a 鈥渨hole person鈥� approach to care鈥攖reating people, not just symptoms. 黑料传送门, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 黑料传送门 students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, 黑料传送门 provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For general media inquiries, please contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at 215-871-6300 or communications@pcom.edu. Visit our media relations page to view contact information for public relations personnel.