| 26 April 2006
The World Osteopathic Health Organization (WOHO) had its inaugural meeting in Colorado Springs March 17-21, 2004 in conjunction with the annual Convocation of the American Academy of Osteopathy. In attendance were 48 of the 153 members from 22 nations of Europe, the Americas and Australia/Asia.
The organization's goal statement includes: "To promote, develop, protect and establish throughout the world, the study, knowledge, philosophy and practice of osteopathy its application and research for the benefit of the peoples of all nations; To ensure the worldwide availability of the practice of osteopathy at the highest possible standards." Although an advisory body, WOHO will assist individual members in their efforts to advocate for educational and practice standards to improve heath care delivery in their own national context. Osteopathy and osteopathic medicine were founded in 1874 by US physician, Andrew Still MD.
Key concepts are the importance of the interrelationship between structure and function in the body, the natural tendency of the body to restore function, redefinition of the role of the physician to facilitate rather than control healing, and the use of manual diagnosis and treatment. The practice of Osteopathy has evolved along with other health sciences and health care delivery systems. Rather than enforcing policy or political influence, the body sees itself as creating a forum in which the successes of osteopathic efforts worldwide can be shared.
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