Celebrating Dr. Still's Birthday and Honoring His Legacy

From the President

Robert A. Cain, DO 
President and CEO
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

How many times have you seen something on television or read a story in the newspaper and said to yourself, “There’s got to be a better way to do that”? Every day, people have fleeting thoughts about ways to improve a product, business system, household chore or even their community or society at large. But then something else comes up and the thought passes, never to be acted upon. Fortunately, for millions of people, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still was not so easily distracted. As we celebrate the 193rd anniversary of his birth tomorrow, August 6, let us take a moment to reflect not just on his achievements, but also on the lessons we can all take from his extraordinary life.

His story is well known. After witnessing harrowing frontline treatments during the Civil War, and suffering through the deaths of his wife and three of his children, Dr. Still was disillusioned by the medical status quo. He realized the standard practices of the day often did more harm than good. He developed a better way to apply his medical knowledge and skills and had the wherewithal and courage to challenge the orthodoxy. Fast forward to 2021 and the results are undeniable. Today, one quarter of all U.S. medical students are enrolled in a college of osteopathic medicine. The number of practicing DOs, 135,000, is up 80 percent over the past decade. And every day, we can carry on Dr. Still’s work of finding ways to do things better.

Whether we are in the classroom, clinical lab or treating patients, DOs should be pushing boundaries and striving for ways to heal and prevent illness. Our philosophy teaches us about the connection of the body, mind and spirit and how the health of each is important to health of all. It would be the ultimate in conceit to feel that we know all there is to know about any of those three keystone areas. To truly carry on and build upon Dr. Still’s work, we must always keep our minds open and search for “the better way.”

Now, we aren’t all going to come up with ideas that change the world. But what we may reject as a small idea can change the world for one person we’re treating, teaching or mentoring. Just as in the 1860s, our country is going through a very unsettling time. Again, medicine and how it’s practiced and perceived is at the forefront of people’s minds. Now is the time to renew our commitment to our calling and answer Dr. Still’s call to better serve and treat our patients. That’s the best way we can celebrate Dr. Still’s birthday and honor his legacy.