鈥淭wo-point grip. Neck and legs.鈥�
That鈥檚 what Griffin Clyatt (DO 鈥�23) remembers from his first time assisting with a delivery at South Georgia Medical Center (SGMC) as a medical student with Ellen Courson, MD.
But his memories with Dr. Courson go back a little longer鈥�27 years to be exact鈥攚hen she delivered him at SGMC.
Clyatt, a Valdosta native, is a third-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) student at 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie. An important part of his education and training involves rotating with preceptors in health systems. He was preparing to rotate through OB-GYN at SGMC when he requested that Dr. Courson, a board-certified OB-GYN, be his preceptor鈥攖he doctor who trains him and oversees his time at the hospital.
Dr. Courson agreed, saying he would be her last medical student.
鈥淲hen I graduated from medical school in 1987, I took the Hippocratic Oath. In that oath, I promised to teach future doctors,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have taught nearly 150 aspiring medical students in 20 years. One of the main reasons I do so is to lure them to stay and live and practice in Valdosta! What better way to attract young doctors than to host them, teach them and expose them to the quality of life we have.鈥�
During his time with Dr. Courson, Clyatt assisted in countless cesarean sections, deliveries and circumcisions.
鈥淚 assisted in my first delivery on my first day of rotations at 7:30 a.m.,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is extremely rare that a medical student is that hands-on during a rotation, especially OB-GYN, but she trusted me, and I trusted her to have my back.鈥�
Dr. Courson delivered Clyatt in 1994 and then his sister in 2000, just two of the thousands of babies she has delivered in her career. She said she enjoyed her time with Clyatt and being able to teach someone that she delivered when she was just eight years into practicing medicine. Now, she鈥檚 been practicing for 35 years, and she鈥檚 closing the chapter of teaching medical students with Clyatt.
鈥淕riffin is a very bright young man,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e will make an excellent physician. I am happy to have been able to take part in his education.鈥�
Clyatt鈥檚 mother, Melissa, said she鈥檚 extremely proud of both Dr. Courson, and her son, Griffin.
鈥淒r. Courson is phenomenal,鈥� she said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 one of the best doctors I鈥檝e ever had. I was tickled to death to learn that Griffin would be working with Dr. Courson. He鈥檚 learning from the best. It鈥檚 unbelievable that he has this opportunity in South Georgia.鈥�
In 2019, 黑料传送门, a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing 黑料传送门 South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, 黑料传送门 South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. 黑料传送门 is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining 黑料传送门 Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, 黑料传送门 South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
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