Advocacy
D.O. Day on the Hill
Nearly 1600 osteopathic physicians and medical students assembled in Washington, D.C. March 5, 2009 as part of D.O. Day on the Hill. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) hosted the annual event with this year’s showing the largest osteopathic representation. The AOA coordinated a morning of addresses followed by an afternoon of scheduled meetings with staff members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. A fine representation was made by many osteopathic physicians certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Welcoming remarks and addresses were given by Marcelino Oliva, DO, Chair of the Bureau on Federal Health Programs, Carlo J. DiMarco, DO, AOA President, Ronnie B. Martin, DO, Immediate Past President ACOFP, John Crosby, JD, AOA Executive Director, Shawn Martin, AOA Director Department of Government Relations, Leann Fox, AOA Director Department of Washington Advocacy and Communications.
The audience was honored to be addressed by Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC-06) and Senator Ron Wyden (R-OR).
The AOA encouraged advocates to educate House and Senate staff about osteopathic medicine and also recommended sponsorship and support of the “Physician Workforce Enhancement Act” (H.R. 914). Literature was distributed touting the osteopathic medical profession. “One in five medical students in the United States is enrolled in a college of osteopathic medicine.” “Currently, there are over 64,000 osteopathic physicians in the United States and 16,000 osteopathic medical students. By 2015, there are projected to be over 90,000 osteopathic physicians.” “More than 60% of all D.O.’s practice in primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics.” The Physicians Workforce Enhancement Act (H.R. 914) was introduced by Representatives Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX). H.R. 914 aims to improve access to health care by increasing the number of physicians trained in high-need specialties (such as family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, preventive medicine, pediatrics, behavioral/mental health) and by expanding the nation’s graduate medical education training capacity to a larger number of suburban and rural hospitals. Meant to help offset a projected shortfall of physicians over the next twenty years, the Act allows hospitals that have never had a residency borrow interest free money from the goverment in order to start such residency training programs.
D.O. Day on the Hill is an excellent way to represent the osteopathic profession. By personally meeting with staff members of the Representatives and Senators from your own voting area, you are able to put a face and a story to osteopathic medicine. All D.O.’s are encouraged to put on a white coat and stump the steps of our Capital.
