[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION (AOA)

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM PRICE

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2010

  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on April 19, 1897 a group of 
osteopathic medical students at the American School of Osteopathy in 
Kirksville, Missouri founded what is today the American Osteopathic 
Association. Today I along with Dr. Broun, Dr. Burgess, Dr. Cassidy, 
Dr. Fleming, Dr. Gingrey, Dr. Kagen, Dr. Paul, and Dr. Roe, rise to 
honor the anniversary of the American Osteopathic Association and 
recognize the more than 67,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) for their 
contributions to the American healthcare system.
  Over the past 113 years, osteopathic physicians have provided high 
quality care to millions of patients and contributed to the advancement 
of medical science. The osteopathic profession's commitment to primary 
care and caring for underserved communities are commendable and are 
essential to the success of our health care system.
  Over the past 20 years the profession has experienced tremendous 
growth. Today, one out of every five medical schools students are 
enrolled in a college of osteopathic medicine and total enrollment in 
the nation's colleges of osteopathic medicine exceeds 16,000 students. 
The profession is well positioned to play an important role in 
alleviating the physician workforce shortage over the next decade.
  Osteopathic physicians practice in every specialty and subspecialty 
of medicine. They practice in the most elite academic institutions and 
successful group practices. However, a majority of osteopathic 
physicians continue the profession's long-standing tradition by 
focusing their careers on primary care specialties, general surgery, 
emergency medicine, and obstetrics.
  These dedicated professionals provide an invaluable service to our 
nation, and we applaud their history and their ongoing efforts to 
improve the health of our nation.

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