Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic medicine is an exclusive form of American medical care that was developed in 1874 by Doctor Andrew Taylor. A Doctor of Osteopathy is a health professional that has earned a degree of Doctor of Osteopathy after studying and graduating in an approved medical school.

If you are considering a career as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, enormous opportunities to practice modern medicine await you. For the osteopathic physician, a patient is much more than a presenting symptom. Each person is a complete human being to be evaluated with consideration for his or her entire background.

The osteopathic model is comprehensive and holistic and demands that its practitioners possess both humanitarian and intellectual qualities. It encourages a broad educational background in the sciences as well as the humanities. Learn more about Osteopathic medicine by using our Osteopathic Resources.

Two types of physicians are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states: the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). While both types of physicians are trained in all aspects of patient care, D.O.�s offer a distinct holistic approach to medicine.

The Differences

  • D.O.s practice a whole person approach to medicine; instead of treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard the body as an integrated whole.
  • D.O.s receive more training in the musculoskeletal system - the body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways in which an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another.
  • Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive healthcare.
  • Osteopathic medical schools graduate more students who become primary care physicians.

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