Two organizations consisting of students from PCOM South Georgia emerged in recent months both with the same goal – connecting the College with the community by educating community members about health concerns.

“We want to educate our community members about health concerns and how to better take care of themselves,” Anthony Dove (DO '25) said. “If we meet community members where they are, we hope that we can encourage them to see a physician if needed.”

Dove leads Brothers in Medicine, a group of African-American male students with the goal of increasing awareness, education and research about social health issues affecting the Black community, especially in rural areas.

Recently the students traveled to a barbershop in Moultrie to host free health screenings. Dove said the students see it as an opportunity to introduce themselves to their community and establish trust between medical professionals and community members.

At the same time, Sistahs in Medicine, a group of African-American female students, has a similar mission for reaching women in the local Black community.

In February Sistahs in Medicine held a “Self-care Session” for PCOM South Georgia students to help them prepare for upcoming challenges while still taking care of themselves. The event's keynote speaker was Harriett Crockett-Woods, DO, a pediatric urgent care physician with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Crockett-Woods shared her journey with the osteopathic medicine students and encouraged them not to give up when faced with adversity.

In mid April, the group hosted an online panel discussing issues about Black maternal health, mortality and equity in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Community Relations. This spring, Sistahs in Medicine began a collaboration with counselors at C.A. Gray Junior High School in Moultrie to mentor students at the school. The Sistahs hope to continue the mentoring program into the next academic year.