{"id":85264,"date":"2024-12-20T13:55:02","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T19:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osteopathic.org\/?p=85264"},"modified":"2025-01-06T09:07:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T15:07:11","slug":"states-and-cities-designate-december-as-osteopathic-medicine-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osteopathic.org\/2024\/12\/20\/states-and-cities-designate-december-as-osteopathic-medicine-month\/","title":{"rendered":"President Biden, 20 states and cities celebrate 150 years of osteopathic medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO\u2014In recognition of nearly 200,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and medical students in the U.S., 20 states and cities across the nation are observing December 2024 as Osteopathic Medicine Month. This designation recognizes the 150th<\/sup> anniversary of osteopathic medicine<\/a>, which applies a distinctive philosophy and approach to caring for patients in all areas of medicine, including primary care, surgery and specialty fields.<\/p>\n

DOs are fully licensed physicians who are trained to provide comprehensive care with a focus on preventive medicine and whole-person wellness. DOs hold some of the most distinguished positions in medicine today, caring for the U.S. President, overseeing the NASA medical team and leading some of the nation\u2019s top-ranked hospitals and health systems. The profession is one of the fastest-growing in health care, making up more than 10% of physicians and 28% of medical students in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a congratulatory letter<\/a> to the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, recognizing the osteopathic profession\u2019s tremendous contributions to health care during the past 150 years. \u201cAs you celebrate this milestone anniversary, it is my hope that you are filled with pride in all the progress the osteopathic medical community has achieved\u2014from pioneering medical discoveries to improving the health and well-being of Americans across the nation and so much more,\u201d the letter states.<\/p>\n

To date, 20 state and city leaders have issued proclamations declaring December 2024 as Osteopathic Medicine Month, including Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, and West Virginia. View the full listing of proclamations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis remarkable achievement not only honors the rich history of our profession but also highlights the profound role of osteopathic medicine in health care today,\u201d said American Osteopathic Association President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist). \u201cThrough patient-centered care and a commitment to understanding the root causes of illness, osteopathic physicians are shaping the future of medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n

List of proclamations<\/h3>\n

The following states and cities across the U.S. have issued proclamations designating this month as Osteopathic Medicine Month.<\/p>\n

States:<\/strong><\/p>\n