How is a DO like an MD?
There are two types of complete physicians in the US. One
has an MD (doctor of medicine) degree and the other has a
DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) degree. The two types of
complete physicians have some differences in training but
are similar in may ways. Here are some of the similarities:
Applicants to both DO and MD medical schools typically
graduate from a four-year college or university with an
emphasis on scientific courses.
After admission to medical school, both DOs and MDs then
complete four years of basic medical training. Both MDs and
DOs must pass comparable licensing examinations. For
example, both DOs and MDs are eligible to take the federal
licensing (FLEX) examination. Both DOs and MDs practice in
fully accredited and licensed health care facilities. Both DOs
and MDs prescribe the full range of medications regulated by
the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Both DOs and MDs
may choose to specialize in primary care or any of the other
recognized specialties through further training beyond
medical school.
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How are DOs different from MDs?
In addition to the traditional medical school curriculum of
anatomy and physiology, DOs are trained to development of
special skills in recognizing (diagnosing) and correcting
(treating) structural problems through manipulative therapy.
D.O.s are trained to use structural diagnosis and
manipulative therapy along with all of the other more
traditional forms of diagnosis and treatment to care
effectively for patients.
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The Heritage
Osteopathic medicine has a unique heritage in American
medical care. Osteopathic medicine was developed in 1874
by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the
medical practice of that time. He believed that many of the
medications of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr.
Still was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of
good health so that he could better understand the process
of disease. His philosophy has its roots in ideas dating back
to the time of Hippocrates. It was also intimately intertwined
with his Christian faith. “God’s drug store is not located on
the corner of the street, but is in the body and the healing
power is within.” The philosophy focuses on the unity of all
body parts. He identified the musculoskeletal system as a
key element of health. He recognized the body’s ability to
heal itself .
Dr. Still pioneered the concept of “wellness” over a hundred
years ago on the Missouri frontier with his philosophy of
osteopathic medicine. Today, osteopathic physicians
continue this heritage in all 50 of the United States, in the US
Military and in foreign countries. There are 23 osteopathic
medical schools and over 43,000 osteopathic physicians.
Over half of all DOs practice in primary care areas such as
pediatrics, family practice obstetrics & gynecology, and
internal medicine. The rest focus their practices in all the
traditional areas of medical specialty including sleep
disorders.
Visit the American Osteopathic Association site for more
information.
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Dr. Andrew Taylor Still
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