Students receiving honors include (from left) Griffin Clyatt, DO 鈥�23; Pavan Patel,
DO 鈥�23; Jasmine Rogers, DO 鈥�23; Ravi Soni, DO 鈥�23; William Brewster, DO 鈥�23; Max Kabolowsky,
DO 鈥�23; Chizoba Akunwanne, DO 鈥�23; Sarah Kate Boyette, MS 鈥�23; Anna Beth Boyette,
鈥�23; Shelby McGee, DO 鈥�23; Setu Patel, DO 鈥�23; Kathleen Bryan, DO 鈥�23; and James 鈥淭rent鈥�
Griner, DO 鈥�23.
Community leaders and College representatives gathered Wednesday evening, the day before commencement, for an awards reception at 黑料传送门 South Georgia to honor graduating students, including those in the campus鈥� first Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine class, with 13 students receiving awards that recognize outstanding achievements. In addition, preceptors, faculty and staff members were recognized.
Calling it a 鈥渕ilestone鈥� event, Robert J. Lloyd, DO 鈥�91, interim dean of the osteopathic medicine program, welcomed graduates and guests鈥攊ncluding city and county leaders, state representatives, college presidents, local physicians, board of education members, hospital administrators, community business leaders and multiple donors鈥斺�渁ll of whom made this campus possible.鈥�
Brewster Receives Most Prestigious AwardThe most prestigious award presented to a student on each campus is the Mason W. Pressly Memorial Medal, which recognizes outstanding achievement and service to the College, the community and the osteopathic profession. William Brewster, DO 鈥�23, received this year鈥檚 award for 黑料传送门 South Georgia.
Brewster, whose hometown is Grayslake, Illinois, also received the Excellence in Primary Care Award. This honor goes to a member of the graduating class who has been selected as most proficient in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.
The Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association Award, also known as the Trimble Award, was presented to Griffin Tygart Clyatt, DO 鈥�23, of Valdosta, Georgia. The recipient of this award must be in the top 20 percent of his/her class and is selected by the faculty and administration of 黑料传送门 South Georgia in consultation with the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association.
The Alumni Association Award was presented to Shelby McGee, DO 鈥�23, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This award is presented by the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association to the member of the graduating class who demonstrates a high caliber of performance of professional duties in hospital and out-patient services, and academic excellence in basic and clinical sciences.
McGee also received the 黑料传送门 South Georgia Student Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class with the highest scholastic average.
The Galen S. Young DO Memorial Award was presented to Kathleen Bryan, DO 鈥�23, of Elmhurst, New York. This recipient is recommended by the department of surgery and must demonstrate exceptional interest and ability in the field of surgery and rank in the top 50 percent of his/her class.
The T. A. Sappington Award in Family Medicine was presented to James 鈥淭rent鈥� Griner, DO 鈥�23, of Moultrie, Georgia. This award is presented to a student selected for a family medicine residency in Georgia who also ranks in the top 50 percent of his/her class.
Griner also received the Excellence in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Award, which is presented by the faculty of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine to a student who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the use of osteopathic philosophy and osteopathic manipulative treatment.
The President鈥檚 Leadership Award in Diversity was presented to Jasmine Rogers, DO 鈥�23, of Chicago, Illinois. This award is presented to a student who has made a unique contribution in creating an environment of shared responsibility and ownership for diversity and inclusion at 黑料传送门, as well as demonstrating emerging and sustained commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Rogers also received the Dean鈥檚 Award, which is presented a member of the graduating class who, by personal and professional conduct and by contributions to student affairs and to the general program of 黑料传送门 South Georgia, has been deemed worthy of special citation.
The Jessie M. Young Memorial Award was presented to Chizoba Akunwanne, DO 鈥�23, of Macon, Georgia. This award is presented to recognize exceptional service to the community or to the College.
The Excellence in Specialty Care Award was presented to Pavan Patel, DO 鈥�23. This award is presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in surgery, specialty internal medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, pathology and radiology.
The SGA-黑料传送门 Student Affairs Leadership Award was presented to Matthew Powell, DO 鈥�23, of Birmingham, Alabama. This award is presented to a student who demonstrated exceptional leadership by establishing student organizations and representing the student body in the College and the community. Powell demonstrated professionalism and a willingness to collaborate with members of the College community during his time as chair of the DO class of 2023.
The 黑料传送门 South Georgia Research Award was presented to Max Kabolowsky, DO 鈥�23, of Parkland, Florida. This award is presented to the student who has demonstrated a strong interest in research.
The South Georgia Peer Tutor of the Year Award was presented to Ravi Soni, DO 鈥�23, of Ocala, Florida.
Anna Beth Boyette, MS 鈥�23, of Bristol, Georgia, received the Dean鈥檚 Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class with the highest scholastic average.
Sarah Kate Boyette, MS 鈥�23, of Bristol, Georgia, received the Biomedical Sciences Leadership Award, which is presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, high academic achievement, and the ability to effectively represent the class in College and community affairs.
The C. Paul Snyder, DO, Undergraduate Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Fellowship Award was presented to Setu Patel, DO 鈥�23, of Valdosta, Georgia. This award recognizes a member of the graduating class who has satisfactorily performed and completed the duties of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Scholar for 黑料传送门 South Georgia.
Jay S. Feldstein, DO 鈥�81, 黑料传送门 president and CEO, congratulated the award recipients saying he has been 鈥渨aiting for this day for close to seven years.鈥� He said the evening was really special because 鈥渇or the most part, everyone here today was here then. It鈥檚 amazing and it wouldn鈥檛 have happened without everybody in this room.鈥�
One of Dr. Feldstein鈥檚 favorite movies is 鈥淔ield of Dreams鈥� and he said one of the best lines in the film is 鈥淚f you build it, he will come.鈥� Looking out over the standing-room only crowd, he said, 鈥淲e collectively built it and you came. And what鈥檚 even more important is hopefully not only did you come, but you will stay.鈥�
He said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 about giving the opportunity for physicians to train in rural Georgia and South Georgia, do their residencies here and practice here.鈥�
鈥淥ur saying at 黑料传送门鈥攁nd next year we鈥檙e going to celebrate 125 years鈥攊s we鈥檙e a family. And, whether you like it or not, you鈥檙e part of the family and we鈥檙e in this together. And we鈥檒l continue to grow together and we鈥檒l do great things for health care and most importantly the patients in South Georgia.鈥�
Dr. Feldstein then addressed the graduates. 鈥淲hen they call your name to come across the stage tomorrow, savor the moment. Thank you for everything.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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