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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 283 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2023

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  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.

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--

    G    (A) the neuromusculoskeletal system; and

    G    (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.
                                 <all>
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