Southern West Virginia News

Congresswoman Carol Miller, representing West Virginia, has taken a significant step alongside 36 other legislators by sending a letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter, addressed to NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, advocates for increased investment and collaboration with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs) and the osteopathic medical education community.

The initiative is supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Representatives Susie Lee, Julia Letlow, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sanford Bishop, Robert Aderholt, John Joyce, Ralph Norman, Sam Graves, John Garamendi, Terri Sewell, Patrick Ryan, Troy Nehls, Gabe Vasquez, Chellie Pingree, Dan Crenshaw, Julia Brownley, Tim Burchett, Ben Cline, Mike Kelly, Steve Womack, Mike Rogers (R-AL), Bob Good (R-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Boozman (R-AR), James Lankford (R-OK), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joe Manchin (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Angus King (I-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and John Kennedy.

James Nemitz from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine expressed gratitude for Congresswoman Miller's efforts. "The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine greatly appreciates Congresswoman Carol Miller’s efforts to help eliminate the disparities in NIH funding and representation for colleges of osteopathic medicine," he stated.

The letter highlights the role that COMs play in clinical research and their impact on communities. It points out that many COMs are located in Health Professional Shortage Areas and that a significant percentage of graduates commit to serving underserved areas. This positions them as critical players in addressing healthcare workforce shortages.

A disparity in funding between osteopathic and allopathic schools is also noted. "Osteopathic medical schools have received only 0.1 percent of NIH grants compared to 40 percent for allopathic schools in Fiscal Year 2024," the letter states. Despite previous congressional encouragement for increased representation within NIH advisory councils for osteopathic physicians, progress has been limited.

The lawmakers urge the NIH to prioritize increasing funding opportunities for COMs across various institutes beyond just the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. They believe this could advance research in primary care and address health disparities more effectively.