To the cheers of family and friends, the first class of 黑料传送门 South Georgia students to earn the doctor of osteopathic medicine degree received their diplomas and hoods during a commencement ceremony held Thursday, May 25 at the UGA Conference Center in Tifton. Joining them was 黑料传送门 South Georgia鈥檚 second class to earn the master of science degree in biomedical sciences.
Even though 黑料传送门 South Georgia only opened in 2019 in Moultrie, Georgia, the campus is part of the Philadelphia
College of Osteopathic Medicine鈥檚 long-standing educational legacy.
鈥淐lass of 2023, today you are graduating from an extraordinary institution, one with a nearly 125-year history of academic excellence,鈥� said Kenneth J. Veit, DO 鈥�76, provost and senior vice president, in his opening remarks. 鈥淢embers of 黑料传送门 South Georgia鈥檚 inaugural DO class and biomedical sciences graduates, you are soon to become alumni, joining over 19,000 spread throughout the nation and world.鈥�
After a special video message from Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, Jay Feldstein, DO 鈥�81, president and CEO, addressed the crowd.
鈥淭oday is a dream come true for so many,鈥� he said. 鈥淏eginning in 2016, Dr. H. William Craver III, recently retired but then vice provost, dean and chief academic officer of 黑料传送门 Georgia, with other college officials, recognized that there was a need to grow graduate medical education beyond our branch campus in North Georgia and to invest in the next generation of osteopathic physicians and healthcare professionals. We were fortunate to gain considerable support from legislators, local and regional businesses, healthcare and education stakeholders, and community members in South Georgia. We were supported by the likes of Jim Matney, president and chief executive officer of Colquitt Regional Medical Center and today鈥檚 commencement speaker, whose goal it had been to build a regional site for rural medical education.鈥�
Dr. Feldstein continued, 鈥満诹洗兔� South Georgia was created to be a place that would inspire, motivate and empower the healthcare leaders of tomorrow鈥攍eaders who will be dedicated to addressing our nation鈥檚 physician shortage, healthcare disparities, and to advancing medicine in underserved rural communities.鈥�
During the ceremony, John P. Kearney, a member of the 黑料传送门 Board of Trustees, presented
Matney with an honorary degree, the doctor of laws. Matney then delivered the commencement
address, during which he reminisced about how many laughed at his dream of having
a medical school in the region.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure that Dr. Feldstein would agree that many of those early first conversations were difficult and even felt impossible at times, but looking out across this group of graduates confirms that all of the work that led us to today was certainly worth it,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s you walk across this stage, it is important for you to remember that with this incredible accomplishment, there comes an immense responsibility with being the first.鈥�
Matney continued, 鈥淚 implore you to use the trials and challenges that will inevitably come your way to fuel your passion and drive. Take inspiration from the pioneers who have come before you, the individuals who were the first to discover groundbreaking treatments, the first to introduce new technologies, the first to challenge conventional wisdom.鈥�
He shared the story of Andrew Taylor Still, known as the father of osteopathic medicine.
A Civil War doctor, Still was inspired by the death of his first wife and three children
to develop a new model of medicine. Matney encouraged graduates to use Dr. Still as
an inspiration to push boundaries and make a difference in the lives of their patients
and communities.
鈥淭o the first graduating class of doctors of 黑料传送门 South Georgia, I say to you, be the first and be brave. You are here for a purpose,鈥� Matney said. 鈥淵ou are strong, focused and willing to do what it takes. Like the great pioneers that have come before you, you have already left an enduring legacy. Congratulations on your achievement, and may your future endeavors be filled with success, joy and prosperity.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.
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.
© 2026 黑料传送门