Whereas, in 1892, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (referred to in this preamble as A.T. Still ) opened the first osteopathic medical school, the American School of Osteopathy, now known as A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Kirksville, Missouri; Whereas A.T. Still was a pioneering physician in recognizing the innate healing mechanisms present within all individuals, and discovered and expanded osteopathic medicine during an era of ineffective and harmful medical practices; Whereas A.T. Still embodied a philosophy of service through his life as a physician advocate, a Civil War hospital steward, and a legislator; Whereas, in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (referred to in this preamble as AACOM ) was founded to support and assist osteopathic medical schools in the United States; Whereas AACOM leads and advocates for the full continuum of osteopathic medical education (commonly known as OME ) to improve the health of the public; Whereas AACOM represents all 40 colleges of osteopathic medicine at 64 teaching locations in 35 States, as well as osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and trainees at medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and health systems in the United States; Whereas, during the 2022–2023 academic year, colleges of osteopathic medicine educated more than 35,000 future physicians, 25 percent of all medical students in the United States, a percentage projected to rise to 30 percent by 2030; Whereas osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest growing medical fields in the United States, with osteopathic physicians practicing in all specialty areas and medical practice settings; Whereas there are more than 178,000 doctors of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical students in the United States; Whereas osteopathic medicine— (1) confers all the benefits of modern medicine to diagnose and treat disease and injury; and (2) emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention