05 LC 98
0278
House
Resolution 334
By:
Representatives Heard of the
104th,
Miller of the
106th,
Floyd of the
99th,
Coleman of the
97th,
Marin of the
96th,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending the establishment of the Georgia Campus - Philadelphia College of
Osteopathic Medicine; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the State of Georgia has an unsurpassed commitment to improving the health and
well-being of its citizens, including increased statewide access to quality,
affordable health care by equipping physicians and health professionals with the
best medical education resources available; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia has now fallen to the rank of 38th in the nation in the number of
physicians per patient, significantly limiting the delivery of quality health
care services and thereby adversely impacting Georgians' health outcomes;
and
WHEREAS,
responding to this growing crisis and the concerns of Georgia policy makers and
health care professionals, the Osteopathic Institute of the South has invited
the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) to establish a campus of
the renowned school in the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded in 1899 with a
mission to train students to become skilled, caring, and successful physicians
guided by the strengths of osteopathic principles refined during a century of
medical practice, teaching, and research; and
WHEREAS,
the
schooĺs
dedication to educating physicians in treating a
patient́s
body, lifestyle, and behavior as a whole has since blossomed to include advanced
degree programs in psychology, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences,
and forensic medicine, making PCOM one of the largest medical schools in the
United States; and
WHEREAS,
the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine now seeks to enhance its
longstanding commitment to primary health care and replicate the success of its
historic mission by establishing the Georgia Campus - Philadelphia College of
Osteopathic Medicine in Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
PCOM has recently purchased a 20 acre campus in Gwinnett County where it is
building a technologically-advanced facility for 21st century medical education;
and
WHEREAS,
under the visionary leadership of President Matthew Schure, the
President́s
Cabinet, Vice Dean and Chief Academic Officer Paul Evans, Campus Executive
Officer John Fleishmann, and an exceptional faculty and administration, the
school will welcome its inaugural class of 85 highly motivated and qualified
students in August of 2005; and
WHEREAS,
PCOM is committed to true partnership with
Georgiás
existing medical schools and institutions of higher education, hospitals and
health care institutions, health professionals, community and political
leadership in working daily to train doctors both qualified and committed to
meet the health care needs of our citizens, especially those in the minority,
rural, and underserved areas of our state.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that members of this
body join in welcoming the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to
Georgia and commend the administration, faculty, and students for their
commitment to excellence in medical education and for working in partnership to
establish a healthier Georgia.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the
administration of the Georgia Campus - Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
Medicine.