The Difference

American osteopathic physicians are fully licensed physicians and surgeons. To become fully licensed, they must graduate from one of 16 osteopathic medical schools accredited by the Bureau of Professional Education of the American Osteopathic Association. After completing osteopathic medical school, D.O.s serve a one-year internship. During that year, they gain hands-on experience in internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, family practice, pediatrics and surgery. Often a D.O. will opt to continue their education by entering a two to six year residency program in a specialty area such as cardiology, neurology or thoracic surgery.

There are currently 35,000 D.O.s in the United States, with 60 percent of them in primary care areas of family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics. D.O.s comprise 5.5 percent of the total physician population and 18 percent of all physicians in the military. By the year 2000, there will be 45,000 osteopathic physicians in practice in the United States. Each year, 100 million patient visits are made to D.O.s.

Unlike in England, in the USA an osteopathic doctor is a fully licensed and trained pysician and surgeon like an MD but with the addition of osteopathic manipulation. Each DO is licensed by each individual state to practice Osteopathic Medicne and Surgery. An English DO to practice in the US would have to take 4 years of Osteopathic Medicine at a US college plus 3 years of residency/internship, then pass a national or state board exam. He would then be able to apply and receive a state licence.

DOs and MDs are Similar

• All must have four years of undergraduate training with an emphasis on science courses.
• All must complete four years of basic medical education.
• All may choose a medical specialty after completing medical school.
• All must pass an unlimited physician and surgeon state licensing examination.
• All may practice in fully accredited, licensed hospitals and medical centers.

DOs and MDs are Different

• D.O.s focus on preventive health care.
• D.O.s receive additional training in the musculoskeletal system, gaining a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.
• D.O.s do not treat specific illnesses or symptoms, but instead practice a whole person approach to medicine.
• D.O.s incorporate osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) into their practice which allows them to use their hands to diagnose and treat soft tissue injury or illness, thereby encouraging the body's natural tendency toward health.

DOs, MDs and DCs

While health care practitioners are very familiar with the similarities and differences between their particular treatment approaches, many times the public is not. The following table is provided to help give a general overview of the training and root philosophies of these three professional disciplines.