Osteopathic Oath

History
The need for a modern version of the Oath of Hippocrates for administration to graduates of osteopathic colleges was first suggested by Frank E. MacCracken, D.O., of California to his state society. During the following year the suggestion was transmitted from the state to the national association, and a committee was formed under the Associated Colleges of Osteopathy to prepare the text. Members of that committee included Dr. MacCracken, as chairman, and Drs. R.C. McCaughan, Walter V. Goodfellow, and Edward T. Abbott. The first version was used from 1938 until 1954, at which time minor amendments were proposed by the AOA Bureau of Professional Education and adopted by the AOA House of Delegates. (see JAOA 54:77, Sep 54.) This version has been in use since 1954. (From the American Osteopathic Association's website).

The Oath
I do hereby affirm my loyalty to the profession I am about to enter. I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and respect both as a physician and a friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity, to perform faithfully my professional duties, to employ only those recognized methods of treatment consistent with good judgment and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature's laws and the body's inherent capacity for recovery.

I will be ever vigilant in aiding in the general welfare of the community, sustaining its laws and institutions, not engaging in those practices which will in any way bring shame or discredit upon myself or my profession. I will give no drugs for deadly purposes to any person, though it may be asked of me.

I will endeavor to work in accord with my colleagues in a spirit of progressive cooperation and never by word or by act cast imputations upon them or their rightful practices.

I will look with respect and esteem upon all those who have taught me my art. To my college I will be loyal and strive always for its best interests and for the interests of the students who will come after me. I will be ever alert to further the application of basic biologic truths to the healing arts and to develop the principles of osteopathy which were first enunciated by Andrew Taylor Still.

Delivery of the Oath
Each year a member of the UNECOM community is granted the honor of administering the Oath to graduating students. In recent years, this person has been the president of the UNECOM Alumni Association.

A chronological order of readers follows:

2005

Greg Thompson, D.O. '87

2004   Ron Ashkenasy, D.O. '86
     
2003   Diane Nugent, D.O. '92
     
2002   George Pasquarello, D.O. '93
     
2001   George Pasquarello, D.O. '93
2000   Landreth Cesaro, D.O. '83
1999   Landreth Cesaro, D.O. '83
1998   Frank Green, D.O. '89
1997   Charlotte Paolini, D.O. '89
1996   Charlotte Paolini, D.O. '89
1995   Jonathan March, D.O. '89
1994   Leigh Baker, D.O. '86
1993   Leigh Baker, D.O. '86
1992   Leigh Baker, D.O. '86
1991   David Weed, D.O.
1990   Boyd Buser, D.O.
1989   Ira Stockwell, D.O.
1988   George Northup, D.O.
1987   Dodge Morgan
1986   Earle Travis, D.O.
1985   Edythe Craig, D.O.
1984   Chase Rand, D.O.
1983   William F. Bergen, D.O.
1982   J. Jerry Rodos, D.O.
   
Residence Life = Lifelong Friends
     

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