The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine recently named Darnae Parks, MSLD, as the director of diversity and community partnerships at PCOM Georgia, which is located in Suwanee.
Parks most recently served as associate director of admissions at PCOM Georgia. In this position, he oversaw the application process for the Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, as well as the Physician Assistant Studies and Medical Laboratory Science graduate programs. He also developed partnerships with organizations to promote academic program growth.
“As a proud member of several minority groups, I have experienced speed bumps and road blocks that only delayed my determined outcomes,” Parks said. “My goal in this position is to make sure that our faculty and staff have the best resources to ensure that our future medical providers, pharmacists, psychologists and scientists are properly prepared to assist our growing diverse communities.”
“We are pleased that Darnae is joining our team and look forward to his contributions in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at PCOM Georgia,” said Marcine Pickron-Davis, PhD, chief diversity and community relations officer,
In November, Parks received the inaugural Employee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award at the annual Employee Recognition Awards luncheon. Employees were nominated for the award by colleagues.
Pickron-Davis said the award was given to one faculty and one staff member on each campus “who went above and beyond to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at PCOM.”
Parks, who received a bachelor’s degree in history from Newberry College in South Carolina and a master’s degree in strategic leadership development from Clayton State University in Morrow, serves as a member of the President’s Task Force for Underrepresented Minorities in Recruitment and Retention, as well as chair of the the PCOM LGBTQIA+ Council.
In addition, Parks serves as a health advisory board member for Gwinnett County Public Schools. He was honored by the 2017–2018 PCOM Georgia Student Organizations Council with a Staff and Services Recognition Award.
Parks is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, where he serves on the Champion Advisory Committee, the Southeastern and the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, the National Association of Medical Minority Educators, where he is the membership co-chair, and the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
Established in 2005, PCOM Georgia is a private, not-for-profit, accredited institute of higher education dedicated to the health care professions. The Suwanee campus is affiliated with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy, as well as graduate degrees in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcom.edu/georgia or call 678-225-7500.
