Ohio General Assembly honors 50th anniversary of Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Ohio General Assembly has recognized the 50th anniversary of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine with a formal proclamation and commendation presented by both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate.

On March 25, during proceedings of the 136th General Assembly, the Senate proclamation was presented by Senator Terry Johnson, D.O., on the chamber floors to Kenneth Johnson, D.O., vice president for Health Affairs and senior strategist for health partnerships, and Jennifer Gwilym, D.O., interim senior dean. The commendation was delivered earlier by State Rep. Ty Moore.

Founded in 1975 after then-Gov. James A. Rhodes signed House Bill 229 into law, the Heritage College welcomed its inaugural class of 24 students less than a year later. Today, the college spans three campuses across Ohio and remains the state’s only osteopathic medical school.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the State of Ohio as we celebrate this important milestone,” said Johnson. “For 50 years, our mission has been clear: to improve the health of Ohioans by training osteopathic physicians who understand the needs of our communities. We are proud that so many of our graduates choose to stay and serve in Ohio, helping to strengthen the state’s osteopathic physician workforce where it is needed most.”

Since its founding, more than 5,000 physicians have graduated from the Heritage College, with approximately 60 percent remaining in Ohio to practice. The college is now the state’s largest producer of primary care physicians, with a strong emphasis on serving rural and underserved communities.

“This recognition reflects not only our history, but also the dedication of our students, faculty and alumni who embody the principles of osteopathic medicine every day,” said Gwilym. “As we look ahead, we remain committed to preparing compassionate, community-focused physicians who will continue to meet Ohio’s evolving health care needs for generations to come.”

In the proclamation, the Ohio Senate praised the Heritage College’s enduring contributions, stating confidence that the institution “will continue its steadfast commitment to cultivating skilled, empathetic, and community-focused osteopathic physicians.”

Similarly, the House commendation, signed by Speaker Matt Huffman and Rep. Ty Moore, recognized the Heritage College for producing skilled leaders in medicine and for its vital role in preparing physicians to serve communities across Ohio.

The proclamation highlighted the college’s legacy of excellence and its critical role in building a highly skilled physician workforce, with the House commendation noting that the college “inspires confidence that it will tenaciously maintain its long tradition of excellence for many years to come.”