Happy Birthday A.T. Still, DO! Celebrate the founder of osteopathic medicine by learning more about his life

A.T. Still, DO, the founding father of the osteopathic profession, was born 197 years ago on Aug. 6, 1828. Dr. Still’s revolutionary approach to care continues to impact patients today through the more than 150,000 U.S. DOs alive today along with many international osteopaths, who provide osteopathic manipulative therapy.

As the profession celebrated its 150^th anniversary this past year, The DO published several articles exploring aspects of Dr. Still’s life, including his Civil War service and actions he took to support the abolitionist movement in the U.S. Following is a roundup of these articles and the discoveries they shared.

Historical artifacts teach us more about the profession’s founder

The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, acquired two new artifacts over the past year that shared more about our profession, according to the museum’s director, Jason Haxton. The first artifact, a photo used as inspiration for a painting of Dr. Still, shows Dr. Still whittling a piece of wood. This led to a more formal photo session, providing more references of Dr. Still’s features to include within the portrait. An interesting detail to note is that the artist painted Dr. Still with his pants untucked from his boots, while in reality, Dr. Still habitually tucked in his pant legs. It’s possible that the artist adjusted Dr. Still’s pant legs and pose for the painting to increase its elegance.

The second artifact, a letter from American author Mark Twain, shared information with the American School of Osteopathy regarding the Twain family’s personal physician’s interest in attending the school. In the early 1900s, Twain publicly endorsed osteopathic medicine via articles in various publications, including The Macon (Missouri) Republican.

Read more about these artifacts and their relevance to the profession here.

The enduring bond between Dr. Still and his Civil War colonel

In 1864, Major A.T. Still, DO, ordered his soldiers to disarm 140 Confederate prisoners of war as they approached and surrendered at the Battle of Mine Creek in Kansas. Following the victory at the Battle of Mine Creek, 21st Regiment Col. Sandy Lowe and his executive officer left Major Still in charge while they ventured to Fort Scott for an update on battle plans, wrote Daryl Callahan, DO, as he delved into the friendship between Dr. Still and Lowe and its impact on the future of osteopathic medicine.

In his autobiography, Dr. Still described his disappointment with the medical treatment methods of the day. Both before and during the Civil War, he witnessed the massive failure of these “heroic” treatment measures on a wide scale. The lives of Dr. Still and Col. Lowe are a testament to the deep bond forged between soldiers: A brotherhood built on shared hardship and resilience. Even in the chaos of the Civil War and its aftermath, their friendship not only endured, but also became stronger—you can learn more about their deep connection here.

Struggles after the war

In another article, Dr. Callahan delved further into Dr. Still’s Civil War experiences, shedding light on his role in the Battle of Westport as well as the complexities of his claim for a Civil War pension. These articles together described what he went through during and after the war, and how what he witnessed on the frontlines helped guide him toward founding osteopathic medicine. In the decade following the Civil War, Dr. Still had many well-documented struggles. When Missouri began registering physicians by county, he was registered as a physician in 1874. In 1876, he contracted typhoid fever, leading to a long recovery period with many months of inability to practice medicine or provide for his family.

Dr. Still decided to file a claim for his Civil War pension, but was forced to wait for the claim to be resolved, and it was ultimately denied. Dr. Still’s pension claim was denied on the grounds that it had been more than 10 years since the end of the war and the valid time period for submitting a claim had elapsed.

For more information on Dr. Still’s awe-inspiring military service beyond these writings, please visit atstilldo.com or Dr. Callahan’s YouTube channel.

Dr. Still’s involvement in the abolitionist movement

In 1857, a new election in Kansas territory resulted in the voting out of the legislature’s pro-slavery majority, putting its control into anti-slavery hands, wrote Daryl Callahan, DO, and Jeremy Bigham, DO. J.B. Abbott, secretary of the newly formed Free State Party, issued a broadside announcement calling for candidate nominations. This political faction opposed to the expansion of slavery would play a crucial role in the abolition movement.

Persuaded to run by his good friend Secretary Abbott, 29-year-old Dr. Still (note that around this time, he was in the process of becoming a physician), was nominated along with 40 other Free State candidates. He was elected to represent the town of Palmyra (today Baldwin City) in Douglas County, Kansas. Once seated, the new legislature rushed to pass the laws necessary for Kansas to enter the Union as a free state.

In another piece from Dr. Callahan, readers can learn more details about Dr. Still’s role in the establishment of the state of Kansas as a free state, as well as his critically important support of Abbott, one of the key figures in the abolitionist movement in Kansas.

Related reading:

AOA’s 2025 Annual Report highlights educational advancements and major advocacy efforts

Minding the gap: A year of listening, leading and lifting up the osteopathic profession