A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, abbreviated as D.O., is a physician licensed to practice medicine, perform surgery, and prescribe medication. Like their M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) counterparts, D.O.s complete extensive medical training. Both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians in the United States; however, they attend different types of medical schools and have distinct philosophies of care.
The core distinction lies in their educational background and approach to medicine. D.O.s attend osteopathic medical schools, which, in addition to a comprehensive medical curriculum mirroring that of M.D. programs, offer training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a set of hands-on techniques used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury by manipulating muscles and joints.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s undergo rigorous medical education, including four years of medical school followed by residency training in a chosen specialty such as family medicine, surgery, or cardiology. Residency can last from three to seven years, depending on the specialty. Upon completion of their training, both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable licensing exams to practice medicine. This ensures that both types of physicians meet the same standards of competency and are qualified to provide comprehensive medical care.
The osteopathic approach emphasizes a “whole-person” philosophy, treating the patient as a unit of body, mind, and spirit. Osteopathic medicine focuses on preventative care and understanding how the body’s systems are interconnected and influence one another. While many D.O.s utilize OMT as a part of their practice, they also employ the full spectrum of modern medical treatments, including pharmaceuticals and surgery, just like M.D.s.
In summary, a D.O. is a fully licensed physician with comprehensive medical training equivalent to that of an M.D. The primary difference is their additional training in osteopathic principles and manual medicine techniques. Patients can be confident in the qualifications and expertise of both D.O.s and M.D.s for their healthcare needs.
References
- What is a D.O.? American Osteopathic Association. https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/what-is-a-do/. Accessed November 1, 2024.
- Roberts A, et al. Osteopathic manipulative medicine: A brief review of the hands-on treatment approaches and their therapeutic uses. Medicines. 2022; doi:10.3390/medicines9050033.
- Chin J, et al. Assessing the knowledge of the osteopathic profession in New York City’s Easter European communities. Cureus. 2022; doi:10.7759/cureus.21664.
