Caroline and Bryan Ginn at a retirement breakfast. Behind them are Dr. Tim Poole and Dr. Julie Wickman, both with the School of Pharmacy. Provided.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 30, 2024 | Bryan Ginn of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has retired as of today as the chief campus officer of the Suwanee medical school, and its sister campus in Moultrie. After his tenure of 12 years, he had seen significant accomplishments during that time. He has also been the face of PCOM in Georgia, and spent lots of time working for medical education at the State Capitol.
Ginn is retiring to his home in Evans, near Augusta, though he admits to anticipating being often at his place on Lake Oconee.
He looks upon the past 12 years, recognizing the college has “gone so far.” When the Philadelphia-based non-profit (since 1899) started its Suwanee campus in 2005 to provide more doctors in the South, it only offered the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy, initially with 100 students. But the Georgia campus has continued to grow quickly, adding programs for doctor of pharmacy; master’s in physician’s assistant; doctor in physical therapy; master’s in bio-medicine; a master’s in biomedical sciences; and a master’s in laboratory science.
Today there are over 1,200 students at the Suwanee campus, and another 250 at the South Georgia campus in Moultrie.
While the college has made significant strides since it was established in Gwinnett in 2005, Ginn anticipates: “I think it will do more, since we are going in the right direction.” He anticipates possible future needs at the college level in Georgia for psychological health, optometry, anesthesiology, audiology and allied health. “It’s a matter of getting the right folks in place. But for instance, there is no optometry school in Georgia. We may some day fill such voids.”
There is a continued need for more doctors, especially in the South. And there is the yearning of college graduates to become part of the medical world. Ginn points out: “We got 5,300 applications for the 135 medical slots, and 1,600 applications for the 34 physician’s assistant’s program. People want to get in the medical field, and it’s tough and very competitive. But that also means those who get in are top students.”
Ginn grew up in a political family. He was born in Virginia when his father was chief of staff for Congressman Elliott Hagan, and later for Sen. Herman Talmadge. Then his father, Ronald Bryan “Bo” Ginn, was himself a congressman for 10 years until 1983. Following that, his father ran for governor, coming out on top in the primary in 1982, but losing in a run-off against Joe Frank Harris in a close race.
Bryan Ginn graduated from Georgia Southern, where several members of his family graduated, and met his wife, Caroline, in Statesboro. He was a staff member for two Congressmen, headed Georgia Southern’s annual giving, and was Kennesaw State’s director of governmental relations. Before being recruited to PCOM, Ginn was the Medical College of Georgia’ s vice president for external and government relations, and advancement.
Looking toward the future, Bryan sees he will have plenty to do in retirement at home. “My wife, Caroline, a Boston, Ga. native, and I have just observed our 35th anniversary. She has two businesses, a boutique and an interior design firm. For sure, I will spend more time with our two children and three grandchildren, who also live nearby in Evans.”
Bryan Ginn: We wish you the best in retirement. We know you will keep busy.
- Have a comment? Send to ebrack2@gmail.com.
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