PCOM South Georgia second-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students, Jake Massey and Allison Tresner, recently served as guest speakers on WALB's Voices of COVID-19 podcast. The students discussed how they became interested in medicine, what they believe their future holds, and how COVID-19 has impacted their lives.

The students are completing their second year in the DO program, an osteopathic medicine program that aims to increase the number of physicians in underserved areas. PCOM established PCOM South Georgia in 2019 in an effort to recruit, train and retain students who want to practice medicine in South Georgia.

The two students will fulfill the mission of PCOM South Georgia by completing their two final years of medical school in rural areas. During their third and fourth years at the College, students rotate through specialties in regional healthcare settings such as cardiology, family medicine, emergency medicine and many more. In order to prepare to work in their clinical clerkships, students learn and practice hands-on techniques in osteopathic manipulative medicine and primary care skills courses.

In addition to their medical school education, a number of students in the DO program have volunteered to assist with vaccine distribution at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. This real-world medical experience during a pandemic has given the students a unique perspective on their future, which also includes upcoming board exams and clinical rotations.