Eight graduate students from the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program
became 黑料传送门 South Georgia's first graduating class.
On Monday, July 25, 2022, eight students earned their Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree from 黑料传送门 South Georgia in Moultrie, making them the campus鈥檚 first graduating class.
Held at Southern Regional Technical College in Moultrie, friends, family members and leadership from 黑料传送门, 黑料传送门 Georgia and 黑料传送门 South Georgia came together to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Fiancee Williams, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Krupesh Patel, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Anthony Pelache, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Elohise St. Forte, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Teighlor Livingston, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Yatri Thaker, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, Kylie Parrish, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, and Janai Groves, MS/Biomed 鈥�22, were presented with degrees and hoods.
At a pre-commencement dinner dance held on Sunday, July 24, students, faculty and staff celebrated the students and honored Pelache, Groves and Livingston who received awards for their hard work and dedication to their studies and classmates.
Pelache earned the biomedical sciences leadership award that recognized a student who demonstrated exceptional leadership. The Florida native was nominated by his peers for general leadership characteristics, high academic achievement and the ability to effectively represent the class in College and community affairs.
Hailing from nearby Albany, Georgia, Groves was awarded the diversity award, an award that recognized a member of the graduating class who made a unique contribution and created an environment of shared responsibility and ownership for diversity and inclusion at 黑料传送门.
Livingston, coming from Lakeland, Georgia, served as the class chair and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Her outstanding academic achievement earned the dean鈥檚 award for the highest scholastic average in the class.
For many students, commencement was the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. St. Forte completed the graduate program with a concentration in public and population health leadership.
鈥淚 enjoyed sharing a learning space with my classmates and professors and will miss the camaraderie, but I'm excited to put my skills to use and expand in my career path,鈥� she said. 鈥淧ublic health fits all of my passions for health care in one. It combines my love of science and critical thinking with my desire to connect with people. It also gives me the ability to implement change in health policies and initiate needed programs.鈥�
Now that she has a few new letters to add behind her name, St. Forte plans to work in public health in a position where she can impact health literacy and equity among underserved and minority communities.
Four graduates of the biomedical sciences program plan to continue learning and pursuing careers in life sciences and health care. The other four graduates will be part of the 黑料传送门 South Georgia Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2026 beginning in August 2022.
Kevin Karem, PhD, Director of the Southeast Food and Feed Laboratory at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, served as the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
Addressing graduates who share similar passions and dreams, he said, 鈥淵ou are on a journey that is just beginning. We all have a responsibility to maintain objectivity to seek and spread truth鈥攏ot ideology鈥� and to help others rather than break them down, to investigate problems rather than express opinions.鈥�
He advised the students, 鈥淵ou are graduating into a chaotic world. Do not lose yourself in that chaos. Maintain civility in an increasingly hostile society, tolerance and empathy in the face of intolerance and truth in the face of ignorance. We all ask you to keep moving forward, and do not lose sight of what is possible. Others are counting on you.鈥�
Jay S. Feldstein, DO `81, 黑料传送门 President and CEO, congratulated the students in his remarks saying, 鈥淎s scientists, researchers and future healthcare leaders, focus鈥攁nd refocus again鈥攐n the whole person. Respect diversity and promote inclusion. Stand with dignity and purpose. Be driven by kindness, compassion and empathy.鈥�
Edward Shaw, PhD, director of the biomedical sciences program, spent the last two years with the graduates as a teacher and administrator. He spoke to the students with excitement and encouragement.
鈥淚 have had the privilege of watching you all as you led by discovery and by example,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou rose to the challenge of courses taught at a medical-school pace and depth. You rose to the challenge of professionalism and scientific thought-oriented graduate courses, and you rose to the challenge of the sometimes-uncomfortable situation of making public presentations. Through these challenges, the faculty and I have borne witness to your humility, professionalism, and growth as future professionals in the health science arena.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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