WVSOM leadership visits Washington, D.C., for AACOM Advocacy Day

Advocates for improved osteopathic care in rural communities take their case to Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Advocates from rural communities across the country made their way to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to address the shortage of medical resources back home.

Advocates say that more funding from D.C. will help attract osteopathic health professionals and specialists.

“There are a lot of shortages all over the country but in rural areas especially,” said Dr. Linda Boyd, Dean of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg. “If you can get one doctor into a rural community with a rural population, you can cut the mortality by 10 percent.”

Boyd and James W. Nemitz, president of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, are helping in a national effort to address the provider shortages.

“We want to change the current situation in rural communities,” said Nemitz. “We are talking to legislators here on Capitol Hill to improve funding, especially for osteopathic specialists who can contribute so much to rural communities where there is a need for more medical professionals.”

This WVSOM team is partnering with leaders from rural communities across the country and is getting help on Capitol Hill from both West Virginia U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (I), Shelley Moore Capito (R) and Congresswoman Carol Miller (R) who represents the School of Osteopathic Medicine in her district.