House Honors Father of Osteopathic Medicine

Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917), the founder of osteopathic medicine, was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians this week.

The Hall of Famous Missourians is a collection of busts around the third floor rotunda in the Capitol that recognizes the noteworthy accomplishments of individuals that have lived in our state. I attended the ceremony in the House of Representative’s Chamber where lawmakers, medical students, leaders in osteopathy, and Still’s relatives gathered to see his sculpture unveiled.

I grew up about 50 miles from Kirksville in Brookfield, Missouri. My dad was treated by A.T. Still’s son, Harry Still, in the 1960s. As a physical therapist, I have embraced the practice of osteopathy and have great respect for the practice.

Osteopathic medicine is a comprehensive medical practice that focuses on treating the whole person and emphasizes prevention. In 1892 Still established the first school of osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri. This school is still in operation and is now known as A.T. Still University.

Thanks to Still’s leadership, osteopathy is practiced throughout the world and there are more than 80,000 osteopathic physicians in the United States.