A true American pioneer, Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. (1828-1917), developed the science of osteopathy in 1874 after having been a Civil War Battalion Surgeon. He founded the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri in 1892. Driven to improving the health care of the 19th century, Dr. Still taught his novel system which aimed at restoring health while avoiding the harmful effects of the un-researched, toxic medications of that era.

Osteopathy was developed as Dr. Still made an effort to understand the nature of disease, health and healing after he suffered the loss of three children in an epidemic of spinal meningitis. He combined the Greek roots osteon, which means bone, and pathos, which means to suffer, coining the term osteopathy to describe the idea that disease is initiated by anatomic structural derangement. Osteopathic philosophy emphasizes the concepts that the person is a unit of mind, body and spirit which is capable of self healing. The neuromusculoskeletal system is emphasized as a key area in the identification and treatment of disease, often through the use of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Osteopathic physicians have an unlimited medical license and are trained in medicine, obstetrics, surgery, and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

Initially resisted by the M.D. establishment, the new osteopathic profession continued its development through the twentieth century, adopting the use of new medications early in the century as they were proven by research to be efficacious. Surgery and obstetrics had been part of osteopathic practice from the beginning. In 1962, one of the six existing osteopathic medical schools became an M.D. school (U.C. Irvine). The state of California discontinued issuing osteopathic licenses, and over 2,000 of that state’s osteopathic physicians were granted M.D. degrees for the price of $65. Paradoxically, this spurred the osteopathic medical profession to enlarge. Today in the twenty-first century, Dr. Still’s vision continues to expand as D.O.’s are trained in 23 osteopathic medical schools across the United States. About half of all D.O.s practice primary care, while the other half are represented in all medical specialties. Touro University, California/College of Osteopathic Medicine was founded in 1992. The first class of students matriculated at Touro University, Nevada in 2004.