[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6913-S6914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DR. RAY STOWERS

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and 
congratulate Dr. Ray E. Stowers, the recipient of the prestigious 
American Osteopathic Foundation, AOF, Lifetime Achievement Award. This 
honor is awarded to outstanding osteopathic doctors who have made 
substantial contributions to the profession and exemplified a lifetime 
of commitment to the practice. Receiving the award at the AOF honors 
gala, Dr. Stowers humbly said, ``Professionally, there's always a sense 
of appreciation for being recognized by your profession and for that 
I'm very grateful.''
  I am grateful for Dr. Stowers' passion for improving community health 
and his achievements on this front.
  Following the completion of his doctor of osteopathic medicine 
degree, Dr. Stowers served rural Kansas and Oklahoma for 25 years, 
establishing five rural health clinics and acting as the only physician 
for a 300-mile radius. With his passion for rural medicine, he went on 
to establish the Oklahoma Rural Health Policy and Research Center to 
promote clinical training and telemedicine. This kind of dedication and 
innovative thinking demonstrates Dr. Stowers' expertise and desire to 
help those in underserved areas.
  Dr. Stowers, the proud father of four children and nine 
grandchildren, has been named Family Physician of the Year by the 
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Physician of the 
Year by the Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association, and was awarded 
the Distinguished Service Certificate by the American Osteopathic 
Association.
  His educational outreach is inspiring. Dr. Stowers founded the 
Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, and 
its auditorium has been named in his honor. Additionally, he acted as 
the associate dean for rural health at Oklahoma State University and 
now serves as the dean of osteopathic medicine and vice president at 
the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, the first and only private 
institution devoted exclusively to healthcare and wellness.
  When speaking of his incredible leadership accomplishments as, 
president of the American Osteopathic Association and Oklahoma 
Osteopathic Association, Dr. Stowers said, ``I was just getting into a 
position to make a difference with the way things are. The thing that's 
driven me the most is looking where I could make the biggest 
difference.'' The world needs more men of the caliber and character of 
Dr. Stowers. He is a transformative, influential leader in the field of 
osteopathic

[[Page S6914]]

medicine. His continued efforts ``serving the underserved and promoting 
a healthier Arkansas'' will help improve countless lives and 
communities.
  I extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Stowers on this honor and 
thank him for dedicating his career to providing outstanding care and 
service to all patients. We can be tremendously proud of his 
accomplishments and look forward to his further contributions and 
leadership.

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