Assembly Resolution No. 163

BY: M. of A. Gunther

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 16-22, 2017, 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
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 16-22, 2017, as Osteopathic
Medicine Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Osteopathic Medicine Week, and to pay tribute to
the osteopathic physicians of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, There are currently close to 130,000 osteopathic physicians
(DOs) and osteopathic medical students in the United States; this figure
includes a growing number of women and minorities; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, approximately one in four U.S. medical students
attended an osteopathic medical school; 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 U.S. presidents and Olympic athletes,
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, DOs 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 hospital 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
population in the country; these valued doctors are dedicated to
improving the health of their communities through education and
advocacy, as well as by delivering quality health services; 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, This Legislative Body recognizes the need for osteopathic
physicians who are committed to bringing attention to improving the
health of Americans, regardless of age, income level, or ethnicity; 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 16-22, 2017, as
Osteopathic Medicine Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Osteopathic Medicine Week in appreciation to
osteopathic physicians for their contributions to health care; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.