[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO PIKEVILLE COLLEGE SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

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                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2009

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a pioneer in rural medicine and one of U.S. News & World's Report's 
2009 top 20 medical schools in the Nation in rural medicine, the 
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine.
  Founded in 1997, the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine 
was established to address the physician shortage in rural Kentucky and 
Appalachia. Governor Paul Patton, Burlin Coleman, and the founding 
Dean, the late Dr. John Strosnider's vision was made possible because 
of the generosity of Attorney G. Chad Perry. Together, their efforts 
have formed one of the leading rural health medical schools in the 
Nation.
  In less than a decade, more than 500 physicians have graduated from 
the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine. Over 150 of these 
graduates have completed their residencies and are now practicing 
medicine. Even more impressive, these graduates are keeping the 
school's mission alive as over 60 graduates have opened offices within 
a 2-hour drive of Pikeville, Kentucky. Several more are practicing 
medicine in the rural communities of Western Kentucky and throughout 
the Appalachian region. These graduates are working with medically 
underserved populations and advancing rural health care each and every 
day.
  The Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine also holds the 
honor of ranking fourth in the Nation for percentage of graduates 
entering primary care residencies. The school emphasizes primary care, 
encourages research, promotes lifelong scholarly activity, and produces 
graduates who are committed to serving the health care needs of 
communities in Eastern Kentucky and Appalachia.
  Serving as a model for other medical schools, the Pikeville College 
School of Osteopathic Medicine continually reaches out to other 
institutions, hospitals and medical centers around the country, 
carrying their message of hope for impoverished regions of the county. 
Their example continues the dream that one day every rural region will 
have better access to primary care physicians.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a shining 
example of reaching out to those in need, the Pikeville College School 
of Osteopathic Medicine. I congratulate the school and its board of 
directors on its prestigious ranking and wish them many more years of 
success.

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