PORTLAND, Ore. October 28, 2015 - Today, FamilyCare Health announced a gift of $250,000 to the William G. Anderson Fund of the American Osteopathic Foundation. The gift will support scholarships which recognize outstanding minority osteopathic medical students. These students have committed their studies to osteopathic principles and practices, have excelled academically and have proven to be a leader in addressing the educational, societal and health needs of minorities.
William G. Anderson D.O. (born December 12, 1927) was the first African-American member of the Board of Trustees of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) where he served for twenty years, including as president. He was best known for his role in leading the Coalition of Desegregation, a civil rights movement called the Albany Movement formed by local activists in Albany, Georgia in 1961.
Osteopathic medicine has been a key element of FamilyCare's philosophy of care since its founding in 1984. Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) are trained to use a hands-on approach called osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in addition to traditional diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. DOs practice a "whole person" approach, helping patients develop lifestyles that don't just fight illness, but also help prevent disease.
"We believe it's important to support these scholarship programs and bring more minority voices into our healthcare system," says President & CEO Jeff Heatherington. "This program honors the distinguished career of Dr. Anderson and helps to attract outstanding students to address the primary care shortage. We're proud to be a partner."
About FamilyCare Health
For 30 + years, FamilyCare Health has been providing patient-centered healthcare to Oregonians. With over 130,000 members, FamilyCare Health is a Medicare and Medicaid managed care organization providing health plan services in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Marion counties. FamilyCare was the first health plan in Oregon to integrate models of physical and mental health. It was the first Coordinated Care Organization in the tri?county area certified by the Oregon Health Authority. More information athttp://www.familycareinc.org/
Local gift helps grow the next crop of osteopathic physicians
October 30, 2015
