LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 17-23, 2016, as Osteopathic Medicine Week in the State of
New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Osteopathic
Medicine Week

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Gover-
nor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 17-23, 2016, as Osteopathic Medi-
cine Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Osteopathic Medicine Week, and to pay tribute to the osteo-
pathic physicians of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, There are currently close to 125,000 osteopathic physicians
and osteopathic medical students in the United States; this figure
includes a growing number of women and minorities; and
WHEREAS, In 2015, one in four U.S. medical students attended an osteo-
pathic medical school; and
WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians have made tremendous contributions to
the American health care system since the Osteopathic Medical Profession
was founded by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, in 1874; and
WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians have treated U.S. presidents and Olym-
pic athletes, contributed to the fight against AIDS and the fight for
civil rights, and served on nationwide health care panels; and
WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians are fully licensed to prescribe medi-
cine and practice in all specialty areas of medicine, including surgery;
and
WHEREAS, Osteopathic physicians are trained to consider the health of
the whole person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their
patients; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 10% of all patient visits in the United States
are to osteopathic physicians who provide comprehensive medical care,
including primary care, specialty care, preventive medicine, diagnoses
and the appropriate use of medication, surgery, manipulation and hospi-
tal referral, often practicing in rural and urban medically underserved
areas; and
WHEREAS, New York State has more than 6,000 licensed osteopathic
physicians representing the fourth largest osteopathic physician popu-
lation in the country, and who are dedicated to improving the health of
their communities through education and advocacy, as well as by deliver-
ing quality health services; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of New York State recognize the need for osteo-
pathic physicians who are committed to bringing attention to improving
the health of Americans, regardless of age, income level, or ethnicity;
and
WHEREAS, New York State has two colleges of osteopathic medicine, The
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) College of Osteopathic Medicine
in Old Westbury, and the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New
York, with campuses in Harlem and Middletown, all 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 the Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 17-23, 2016, as
Osteopathic Medicine Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Osteopathic Medicine Week in appreciation of
osteopathic physicians for their contributions to health care; 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.