FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2011
(CHICAGO) — At a time when many state and local governments are passing or have established laws prohibiting smoking in public spaces, an increasing number of businesses and other places of employment are establishing tobacco-free polices. Recognizing the potential for these kinds of smoking bans to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco, members of the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) House of Delegates voted today to support tobacco-free environments at all osteopathic medical schools in the United States.
“Osteopathic medical schools aren’t just places of employment, but are institutions where today’s osteopathic medical students become tomorrow’s physicians,” notes Boyd R. Buser, DO, an AOA trustee and the vice president and dean of the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (UP-KYCOM). “It is in line with osteopathic medicine’s philosophy of preventing illness and injury through healthy lifestyles that we establish tobacco-free osteopathic medical schools, which in turn will support a tobacco-free medical profession and workforce.”
Inspired by medical research and various government reports on the harm caused by smoking and the positive impact of tobacco-free environments on people’s health—including the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council’s National Prevention Strategy called for under the Affordable Care Act—the policy adopted by delegates commits the AOA to the goal of establishing tobacco-free environments at all 26 osteopathic medical schools in their 34 locations.
Several osteopathic medical schools have already become tobacco-free, including UP-KYCOM.
About the House of Delegates
The AOA’s House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 delegates representing osteopathic state medical associations, specialty societies, interns, residents and students from throughout the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers.
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
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Media Contacts:
Nicole Grady
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
(312) 593-6897 (Mobile)
ngrady@osteopathic.org