--- title: HR 628. PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr628 cite_as: HR 628, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr628 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr628.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr628/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71448 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr627.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr629.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr628.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 628 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Charles Cannon - Darlene Taylor text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR628/2025 upstream_id: 2010580 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - medical education - healthcare workforce - rural healthcare - osteopathic medicine - legislative commendation --- # HR 628. PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3383 House Resolution 628 By: Representatives Cannon of the 172nd and Taylor of the 173rd A RESOLUTION Commending PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, PCOM began educating and training healthcare professio nals in Georgia 202 years ago, exemplifying Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Med icine's dedication to3 addressing critical healthcare needs across the state; and4 WHEREAS, PCOM Georgia was established in Suwanee in 2005 and ce lebrates its 20th5 anniversary this year, while PCOM South Georgia opened in Moultrie in 2019 and marks its6 fifth anniversary this year; and7 WHEREAS, PCOM is now the second-largest medical school in Georgia, enrolling a total8 of 1,226 osteopathic medical students; and9 WHEREAS, PCOM Georgia enrolls 972 students at its Suwanee campus, and PCOM South10 Georgia enrolls 254 students; and11 WHEREAS, since their beginnings, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia have trained12 more than 3,100 highly competent, caring physicians, health pra ctitioners, and behavioral13 H. R. 628 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3383 scientists who practice a whole-person approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms;14 and15 WHEREAS, PCOM students gain hands-on clinical experience in com munities across16 Georgia, transforming the state into a dynamic learning environment and expanding access17 to care; and18 WHEREAS, 1,876 PCOM alumni practice in Georgia, playing a vital role in delivering19 primary and specialty care, particularly in the state's rural a nd other underserved20 communities; and21 WHEREAS, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia have achieved a 10 0 percent22 postgraduate placement rate for 2023 and 2024, with graduates securing residency positions23 at hospitals, medical centers, and healthcare institutions across the state; and24 WHEREAS, these placements reinforce the institution's commitment to expanding medical25 education, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and addressing the needs of communities26 throughout Georgia.27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that28 the members of this body commend PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Ge orgia on their29 anniversaries and historic accomplishments as well as extend the sincerest gratitude for their30 dedicated service in addressing critical healthcare needs across Georgia.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to PCOM33 Georgia and PCOM South Georgia.34 H. R. 628 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia, two osteopathic medical schools, for their anniversaries and role in training healthcare workers across the state. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors PCOM Georgia, based in Suwanee, and PCOM South Georgia, based in Moultrie, both branches of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. PCOM Georgia is celebrating its 20th anniversary and PCOM South Georgia its fifth. The resolution lays out facts about the schools' enrollment, graduate placement rates, and role in training doctors and other health practitioners who go on to practice in Georgia, especially in rural and underserved areas. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally states that the House commends both schools for their anniversaries and accomplishments and thanks them for their work addressing healthcare needs in the state. It also directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the two schools. ### What it does - Formally commends PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia on their anniversaries and accomplishments in medical education. - Expresses the House's gratitude to both institutions for their role in addressing healthcare needs across Georgia. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to both schools. - Does not create any new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement of recognition. ### Who it affects PCOM Georgia in Suwanee and PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie, their students, faculty, and alumni. It also touches Georgia communities, especially rural and underserved areas, that are served by physicians and health practitioners trained at these schools. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or funding consequences, it publicly recognizes two medical schools that the text says have trained thousands of physicians and health practitioners now practicing in Georgia, many in rural and underserved communities. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount PCOM's history in Georgia, including PCOM Georgia's founding in Suwanee in 2005 and PCOM South Georgia's opening in Moultrie in 2019. - States that PCOM is the second-largest medical school in Georgia, enrolling 1,226 osteopathic medical students combined between the two campuses. - Notes that more than 3,100 physicians, health practitioners, and behavioral scientists have been trained at the two schools, with 1,876 alumni currently practicing in Georgia. - Cites a 100 percent postgraduate placement rate for 2023 and 2024 graduates into residency positions. - The resolving clause formally commends both schools and extends gratitude for their service to Georgia's healthcare needs. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Charles Cannon, Darlene Taylor - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71448 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr628.md?full=1