Eland honored for
promoting
osteopathic medicine
Provides osteopathic
manipulation,
knowledge to School
of Dance

By Richard Heck
May 25, 2010
David C. Eland,
D.O., FAOO,
professor of
osteopathic
manipulative
medicine at the Ohio
University College
of Osteopathic
Medicine, received
the Osteopathic
Spirit Award for
2010-2011 because of
a “dynamic”
nomination from
outside the field of
medicine.
Madeleine Scott,
director and
professor at the
Ohio University
School of Dance,
called Eland a “true
ambassador” for
osteopathic medicine
in her letter of
nomination.
Established in 2004
and presented by the
Advocates for the
Ohio Osteopathic
Association (AOOA),
the award honors
individuals who
demonstrate
extraordinary
commitment to
promoting the
osteopathic medical
profession.
Recipients of the
award must meet the
following criteria:
-
Promotes
osteopathic
public
education
and
awareness.
-
Provides
volunteer
service
to
either
patients
and/or
the
community.
-
Exemplifies
the
spirit
of
caring
that
embodies
the
osteopathic
profession.
-
Has
served
the
osteopathic
profession
for
five
or
more
years.
Scott noted that
college athletes
routinely have
access to trainers,
physical therapists
or medical doctors
who provide support
for enhanced
function. They
provide support that
teaches athletes how
to care for their
injuries and how to
train for peak
performance.
Eland has provided
similar services to
not only dance
majors at Ohio
University since
1995, but to School
of Dance faculty as
well, she said.
“Dr. Eland has
volunteered his
services to our
dance major
curricula through
special
presentations to
Dance Kinesiology
and Movement
Fundamentals
courses,” Scott
wrote.
“In these courses he
informed our
artist-athletes
about the value of
osteopathic
manipulation to
their overall health
and well-being.
His presentations
included informative
lecture materials
and experiential
sessions that
acknowledged that
the heart of
integrated learning
for the dancer is in
the body,” Scott
said. “His
classes demonstrated
that the Osteopathic
approach respected
the dancers’ values
and aesthetics even
as it addressed
individual needs.”
Calling the award
“very special,”
Eland said he first
began working with
the School of Dance
after he and his
wife became friends
with Scott soon
after first coming
to Athens. He
explained that as
athletes, dancers
experience issues
and injuries that
osteopathic
manipulation can
address.
“Even though dancers
are extremely
flexible, even a
little imbalance can
cause them problems.
I help them identify
that imbalance and
find ways to bring
their balance to its
optimal point. It
synchronizes well
with what we can
offer with
osteopathic
manipulation.”
Scott noted that
often physicians
prescribe
medications or
periods of
inactivity to
dancers, which can
cause side effects
contributing to loss
of training and
practice.
“They have learned
through working with
Dr. Eland that
(osteopathic
medicine) offers a
constructive and
positive way for
them to take care of
injury, institute
healthy practices
and build a long and
physically
successful career,”
she said. “I often
hear injured student
dancers sing his
praises as the
doctor with magic
hands.”
The faculty in the
School of Dance see
him regularly for
osteopathic
manipulation and
support and
recommend him to
students and
visiting artists who
are in need, Scott
said. “Their work
with him has
extended the quality
of their performing
and teaching lives,”
she said.
Jane Routh, awards
committee chairwoman
for the AOOA, said
the committee was
pleased to receive a
nomination for the
award from someone
outside the medical
field. “This is
saying what really
is happening with
osteopathic
medicine, she said.
Since Eland was not
able to attend the
presentation of the
award at the Ohio
Osteopathic
Symposium in April,
Routh presented him
with the award on
Tuesday, May 25, at
his office at
OU-COM.
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