Museum hosts physicians for Legacy Project
Posted: June 20, 2013
Kirksville, Mo., the “Home of Osteopathic Medicine” welcomed five special guests this week to take part in a new program called the Legacy Project. This recognition is bestowed upon osteopathic physicians identified by multiple professional sources as making an influential impact on the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). These physicians have earned this distinction from peers and mentees for many years of service and sharing knowledge they gained in the science and art of manipulative medicine with others.
This year, Robert C Ward, DO, Edward Stiles, DO, ’65, Anthony Chila, DO, Stephen Blood, DO, ’68, and Fred L. Mitchell, DO, (assisted by his son, Kai Mitchell, CMM/CMT) were recognized. The five traveled to Kirksville, visiting the founding school of osteopathic medicine to record their research, techniques, and stories of those who influenced their OMM work and style. By recording their stories and techniques, a living historical record is created of meaningful contributions by these osteopathic physicians who have significantly impacted the osteopathic profession through leadership, clinical skill, teaching, mentorship, and research.
The project is a joint venture of the A.T. Still Research Institute, A.T. Still University (ATSU), and the Museum of Osteopathic MedicineSM with funding support from the Cranial Academy Foundation, Auxiliary to the American Osteopathic Association, private donations, and ATSU.
The goal is to not only collect but also to appropriately sustain, organize, and disseminate the information shared to enrich future osteopathic practitioners worldwide, as well as minimize the potential loss of unique osteopathic insights that might otherwise be forgotten by the passing of time and experts.