MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2018 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Polk, Dearing, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd)

Senate Concurrent Resolution 623

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS FOR THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AND DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE OF MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS ON THE OCCASION OF NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE WEEK APRIL 15-21, 2018.

     WHEREAS, Osteopathic Medicine was developed in the late 1800s by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy), who sought out a different approach to practicing medicine which served to benefit the patient on a more holistic mind, body and spirit approach; and

     WHEREAS, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine can practice in any specialty with most of them serving in primary care, and this helps to ease the rising tension of the physician shortage; and

     WHEREAS, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine use Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), which consists of a variety of techniques targeted toward muscles, bones, the circulatory system, and the nervous system to help bring balance to abnormal physiological functions to include alleviating chronic pain through nonpharmacological means which is beneficial during the opioid crisis we are now facing; and

     WHEREAS, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine take pride in seeing patients beyond their symptoms by including other aspects of patients' lives into making diagnoses, such as socioeconomic status, home life and occupation; and in doing so, they seek to work with patients on preventative measures that could adversely affect their health; and

     WHEREAS, Osteopathic Medicine needs to be more fully recognized in the City of Hattiesburg for its citizens to appreciate the importance of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and to encourage the community to actively recruit more Osteopathic Physicians to practice in Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, there are 885 licensed Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine in the State of Mississippi, of which 156 are currently in postgraduate training, and there are over 400 currently enrolled osteopathic medical students, some of whom are faculty members and administration at the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize osteopathic physicians and students for their collective efforts and dedication to improving the health care of Mississippi residents on the occasion of National Osteopathic Medicine Week April 15-21, 2018.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Tommy King, President of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.