LMU-DCOM
My elevator speech was met with mixed results. Some showed skepticism, some genuine interest, some open curiosity, and there was also some support from those who understood the validity behind my standpoint. Overall, it was an awesome experience to see firsthand the impact that occurs when advocates for Osteopathy gather in force. The main takeaway I gained from this experience was the importance of adopting a stance of advocacy to help guide Osteopathic Medicine to the forefront of medical treatment. As I go further along in my education and training, I realize more every day how crucial it is that our unique skillset becomes properly recognized, and rises to take center stage in helping ease the pain of those who are suffering. I encourage everyone to take part in taking charge of the direction that this wonderful profession is heading in, and become advocates in your communities, your states, at the national level, and to the larger world.
This was truly the main point of impact that I wanted to impress upon our representatives, and I used it to further drive home the point that our training makes us uniquely poised to combat this epidemic. Finally, to emphasize these two points further, I relayed the experiences I have had treating patients. I explained to them that even though I am only a first year, in a short amount of time I have learned techniques that can heal the physical maladies of my patients, and help guide them on a pathway toward wellness. I explained that when Osteopaths treat patients with OMT, it is more than just the mechanical diagnosis and treatment of an ailment. There is an empathetic bond that develops between the practitioner and their patients. Through this bond the wishes of the practitioner to see their patient achieve wellness is effectively conveyed. It is this kind of unique intervention that is crucial in combating a problem as insidious as narcotic addiction.
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