[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 283--RECOGNIZING JUNE 28, 2023, AS THE 125TH 
  ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF OSTEOPATHIC 
  MEDICINE AND COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION TO IMPROVE THE 
               HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. RISCH submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 283

       Whereas, in 1892, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (referred to in 
     this preamble as ``A.T. Still'') opened the first osteopathic 
     medical school, the American School of Osteopathy, now known 
     as A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine, in 
     Kirksville, Missouri;
       Whereas A.T. Still was a pioneering physician in 
     recognizing the innate healing mechanisms present within all 
     individuals, and discovered and expanded osteopathic medicine 
     during an era of ineffective and harmful medical practices;
       Whereas A.T. Still embodied a philosophy of service through 
     his life as a physician advocate, a Civil War hospital 
     steward, and a legislator;
       Whereas, in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of 
     Osteopathic Medicine (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``AACOM'') was founded to support and assist osteopathic 
     medical schools in the United States;
       Whereas AACOM leads and advocates for the full continuum of 
     osteopathic medical education (commonly known as ``OME'') to 
     improve the health of the public;
       Whereas AACOM represents all 40 colleges of osteopathic 
     medicine at 64 teaching locations in 35 States, as well as 
     osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and 
     trainees at medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and health 
     systems in the United States;
       Whereas, during the 2022-2023 academic year, colleges of 
     osteopathic medicine educated more than 35,000 future 
     physicians, 25 percent of all medical students in the United 
     States, a percentage projected to rise to 30 percent by 2030;
       Whereas osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing 
     medical fields in the United States, with osteopathic 
     physicians practicing in all specialty areas and medical 
     practice settings;
       Whereas there are more than 178,000 doctors of osteopathic 
     medicine and osteopathic medical students in the United 
     States;
       Whereas osteopathic medicine--
       (1) confers all the benefits of modern medicine to diagnose 
     and treat disease and injury; and
       (2) emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of 
     wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease 
     prevention;
       Whereas--
       (1) osteopathic medical education emphasizes the 
     interrelationship between the structure and function of the 
     body; and
       (2) osteopathic medical students receive extensive training 
     in both--
          (A) the neuromusculoskeletal system; and
          (B) osteopathic manipulative treatment, the therapeutic 
     application of manual pressure or force used to treat 
     structural and functional issues in the bones, joints, 
     tissues, and muscles of the body;
       Whereas serving rural and underserved populations is a key 
     pillar of AACOM and its member schools, and AACOM works to 
     improve access to health care services, especially in rural 
     and underserved areas of the United States;
       Whereas 60 percent of osteopathic medical schools are 
     located in health professional shortage areas;
       Whereas 88 percent of osteopathic medical schools have a 
     stated public commitment to rural health; and
       Whereas AACOM supports its member institutions as they 
     educate the future physician workforce, increase awareness of 
     osteopathic medical education and osteopathic medicine, 
     promote excellence in medical education, policy, research, 
     and service, and foster innovation and quality throughout 
     medical education: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 125th anniversary of the American 
     Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (referred to 
     in this resolving clause as ``AACOM'');
       (2) commends AACOM for its work to improve the health of 
     the people of the United States; and
       (3) recognizes osteopathic medical students and doctors of 
     osteopathic medicine across the United States who devote 
     their time and resources to increase access to health care 
     services across the country and improve the lives of their 
     patients.

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