LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 19-25, 2015, 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 19-25, 2015, 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 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 contributions to the American health
care system since the Osteopathic Medical Profession was founded by
Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, in 1874; and
WHEREAS, DOs have treated both U.S. presidents and Olympic athletes;
they have contributed to the fight against AIDS and the fight for civil
rights and have served on nationwide health care panels; and
WHEREAS, DOs are fully-licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in
all specialty areas of medicine, including surgery; and
WHEREAS, Close to 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, DOs are trained to consider the health of the whole person
and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their patients; and
WHEREAS, New York State has approximately 5,000 licensed osteopathic
physicians, which represents the fifth largest osteopathic physician
population in the country, and who are dedicated to improving the health
of their communities through education and awareness-based efforts, as
well as by delivering 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 aver-
age; 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 19-25, 2015, 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.