LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 14-20, 2013, as Osteopathic Medicine Week in the State of
New York, in conjunction with National Osteopathic Medicine Week

WHEREAS, There are currently more than 100,000 osteopathic physicians
(DOs) and osteopathic medical students in the United States; this figure
includes a growing number of women and minorities; and
WHEREAS, DOs have made tremendous accomplishments to the American
health care system since osteopathic medicine was developed by Andrew
Taylor Still, MD, DO, in 1874; and
WHEREAS, DOs have treated U.S. presidents and Olympic athletes;
contributed to the fight against AIDS and the fight for civil rights;
and served on nationwide health care panels; and
WHEREAS, DOs are fully-licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in
all specialty areas of medicine, including primary care, specialty care,
preventive medicine, diagnoses and the appropriate use of drugs,
surgery, manipulation and hospital referral; and
WHEREAS, Close to 10% of all patient visits in the United States are
to osteopathic physicians; and
WHEREAS, New York State has approximately 5,000 licensed osteopathic
physicians, representing the fifth largest osteopathic physician popu-
lation in the country; many of these physicians practice in rural and
urban medically underserved areas; and
WHEREAS, New York State has two colleges of osteopathic medicine --
The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) College of Osteopathic Medi-
cine in Old Westbury, and the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-New
York, in Harlem -- both of which train students who enter primary care
specialties in numbers well above the national average; and
WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians deserve acknowledgment for providing
high-quality, comprehensive care to New Yorkers across our state; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 14-20, 2013, as
Osteopathic Medicine Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
National Osteopathic Medicine Week and to pay tribute to the osteopathic
physicians of this great Empire State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.