SENATE RESOLUTION 33

(By Senators Baldwin, Mann, Stollings, Takubo, Unger, Blair, Cline, Boso, Plymale, Jeffries, and Maroney)

[Introduced February 8, 2018]

Recognizing the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine for excellence in medical education and its many contributions to the State of West Virginia.

Whereas, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s main campus is located in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and its statewide campus offices are located throughout the Mountain State; and

Whereas, The mission of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is to educate students from diverse backgrounds as lifelong learners in osteopathic medicine and complementary health-related programs; to support and develop graduate medical education training; to advance scientific knowledge through academic, clinical, and basic science research; and to promote patient-centered, evidence-based medicine; and

Whereas, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is dedicated to serving, first and foremost, the State of West Virginia and the health care needs of its residents, emphasizing primary care in rural areas; and

Whereas, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is a leader in producing graduates who practice in rural settings, has a nationally recognized faculty, and has developed innovative programs using funding from the Rural Health Initiative, such as the Green Coat Program; and

Whereas, U. S. News & World Report has ranked the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine among the top medical schools in the nation in primary care, rural, and family medicine for the past 19 years, solidifying the school’s reputation as a place where scientific study and compassion are joined in one curriculum; and

Whereas, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is known nationwide for its efforts in rural, family, and primary care medicine and has earned many accolades to support its efforts, including: First among all medical schools in the United States graduating physicians who practice in rural areas (Academic Medicine, 2010 Study); fifth in the nation for percentage of medical school graduates entering primary care residency specialties (U. S. News & World Report, 2018); fourteenth in the nation for family medicine (U. S. News & World Report, 2018); fourteenth in the nation for rural medicine (U. S. News & World Report, 2018); and

Whereas, Third and fourth year students from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine completed 1,394 rural clinical rotations in West Virginia this past academic year; and

Whereas, The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine has been recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education for six consecutive years as a “great college to work for”, the first institution in West Virginia to receive this honor; and

Whereas, Graduates of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine practice medicine in 47 of West Virginia’s 55 counties and in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and making a significant contribution to the health care needs of the citizens of West Virginia and the nation; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine for excellence in medical education and its many contributions to the State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.