Andrew Taylor Still

Dr A.T. Still and Mrs. Annie Morris, his amanuensis. Wellcome L0040493

Andrew Taylor Still (August 6, 1828 – December 12, 1917) was an American physician and surgeon who is best known as the founder of Osteopathy and the American School of Osteopathy (now A.T. Still University). Still was a pioneer in the concept that the body's systems are interconnected and dependent upon each other for good health, a principle that challenged the prevailing medical practices of his time.

Early Life

Andrew Taylor Still was born in Lee County, Virginia, in 1828, into a family with a strong background in the medical field; his father was a Methodist minister and doctor. From an early age, Still was taught to value the importance of health and the body's ability to heal itself, which later influenced his development of osteopathy.

Career and Osteopathy

Dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th-century medicine, particularly in the wake of his own experiences with personal and family illnesses, Still sought to develop a system of medicine that emphasized the body's innate ability to heal itself. In 1874, he announced the discovery of a new medical philosophy he called osteopathy, centered on the idea that the manipulation of the musculoskeletal system could improve blood flow and, by extension, health.

In 1892, Still founded the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri, the first institution for the teaching of osteopathy. This school was revolutionary in that it offered medical training to both men and women on an equal basis.

Philosophy and Legacy

Still's philosophy of osteopathy was based on the belief that the body is a unit, the body possesses self-regulatory mechanisms, the body has the inherent capacity to defend and repair itself, and that the structure and function of the body are reciprocally interrelated. He emphasized the importance of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease, which was a significant departure from conventional medical practices of his time.

Andrew Taylor Still's work laid the foundation for the practice of osteopathic medicine, which has grown to be recognized worldwide. His emphasis on preventive medicine and the body's natural healing processes was ahead of its time and has influenced various aspects of modern medicine.

Death and Legacy

Andrew Taylor Still died on December 12, 1917, in Kirksville, Missouri. His legacy lives on through the continued practice and development of osteopathic medicine. The A.T. Still University remains a leading institution in the field, and osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully licensed to practice the full scope of medicine in all 50 states of the United States and in many other countries around the world.

Still's principles of holistic medicine and the importance of the musculoskeletal system in overall health continue to influence medical practices and the development of treatments that emphasize the health of the whole body.