HR 458

                                                  PRINTER'S NO.   3049
                THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
         HOUSE RESOLUTION
            No. 458
                                            Session of
                                              2026
INTRODUCED BY VENKAT, HILL-EVANS, FREEMAN, CAUSER, HOHENSTEIN,
   RIVERA AND PASHINSKI, MARCH 23, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 23, 2026
                             A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing April 13 through 19, 2026, as "National Osteopathic
2    Medicine Week" in Pennsylvania.
3WHEREAS, More than 207,158 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and
4 osteopathic medical students bring their distinctive approach to
5 providing health care for millions of patients across the United
6 States; and
7WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's 12,113 DOs are dedicated to improving
8 the health of their communities through patient-centered care
9 focused on treating the body, mind and spirit; and
10WHEREAS, DOs practice in every medical field and specialty,
11 combining medical expertise with a whole person approach
12 centered on listening to and partnering with their patients; and
13WHEREAS, DOs account for more than 11% of all physicians in
14 the United States, and more than 25% of all United States
15 medical students have chosen to practice osteopathic medicine;
16 and
17WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a national leader in practicing DOs,
18 ranking third out of all 50 states; and
1WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is home to three Colleges of
2 Osteopathic Medicine, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic
3 Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and the
4 Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine of Duquesne University;
5 and
6WHEREAS, More than half of the nation's DOs practice in the
7 primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine
8 and pediatrics; and
9WHEREAS, Nearly 70% of DOs are under 45 years of age; and
10WHEREAS, DOs have made tremendous contributions to the
11 American health care system since osteopathic medicine was
12 founded by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, more than 130 years ago;
13 and
14WHEREAS, DOs hold some of the most prominent positions in
15 medicine today, including serving as physician to the President
16 of the United States as well as overseeing care for the NASA
17 medical team and many Olympic-level and professional athletes;
18 and
19WHEREAS, DOs are trained to consider the health of the whole
20 person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their
21 patients; therefore be it
22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize April
23 13 through 19, 2026, as "National Osteopathic Medicine Week" in
24 Pennsylvania; and be it further
25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
26 Pennsylvanians to support this observance by helping to educate
27 members of the public about osteopathic physicians and
28 osteopathic medicine.
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