For a Doctor's title -- what does DO mean?

Question

Some doctors are MD's. Some are DO's.

Answer 1

DO's are doctors of osteopathic medicine. Their medical school training includes a variety of things more like chiropractic care (spinal manipulation) as well as all the basic anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pathology that MD medical students get.

The label "allopathic" that people put on MD medical schools and practice is really to differentiate it from "homeopathic," not to differentiate it from "osteopathic" training. This is terminology that dates back about a hundred years or more to when science was first really entering into the field of medicine. Today, the only people who use this terminology are really interested in the topic of "alternative medicine" and who want to use some sort of label to differentiate what they do (which may or many not include the practice of homeopathy) from conventional "allopathic" medicine. In general, the medical community does not describe itself as the "allopathic medical community." If you want to learn more about this, contact me directly, because it's off the topic you asked about.

DO's obtain medical licenses just like MD's do, and can practice medicine, prescribe medication, admit patients to hospitals etc, just like MD's. The main difference is that DO's tend not to be as strongly competetive in terms of being able to obtain graduate medical education.

Doctors complete medical school, in the United States, and then spend between 3 and 8 years more, learning a specialty. This is called "residency." DO training tends to be viewed by residency programs as being less desirable than MD training. This is not to say that it is impossible to obtain a DO degree and then go on to the medical career of one's choice, but it makes it substantially harder!

DO's typically have to do an extra year of training after their 4 years of medical school in order to be eligable for medical licensure. This is variable across the country right now, and in some cases it is negotiable.

The reason that this topic comes up is that DO schools are essentially "for-profit." They will accept any reasonably qualified applicant. Even ones that are unable to obtain a position in a traditional medical college. DO schools are unregulated in terms of the number of students or even schools that can be created. The medical community has some concern that this may have adverse effects on the overall quality of care that is available in the United States.

I, myself, am an MD and I work alongside a number of DO physicians, both primary care providers and specialists. I personally believe that the quality of care that these doctors provide is above reproach. My personal belief is that the training that doctors get as medical students is not as important as the training that they receive afterward, i.e., residency. If doctors apply themselves appropriately in residency, they can be excellent specialists, no matter what their background is.

Thus, at the end of the analysis, my assessment is that there are no significant differences between these two degress.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

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RE:
For a Doctor's title -- what does DO mean?
Some doctors are MD's. Some are DO's.

Answer 4

20

Answer 5

Dr. of Osteopathy.

Incidentally, Osteopaths are not "one step below" an MD. Osteopaths have probably done more for the advancement of understanding human physiology as it relates to pain and dysfunction than any other segment of medicine. The work of DO's like William Sutherland, John Upledger and Leon Chaitow have helped to advance many fields of non-invasive pain alleviation, like Neuromuscular Therapy, and a greater understanding of just how the human body functions normally and how minor dysfunction leads to pain.

Answer 6

DO vs. MD
If you are like most people, you probably don't know the difference between a medical doctor, MD, and an osteopathic doctor, DO.

DOs and MDs are alike in many ways:

Applicants to both DO and MD colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses.


Both DOs and MDs complete four years of basic medical education.


After medical school, both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine—such as psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics, or sports medicine—after completing a residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).


Both DOs and MDs must pass comparable state licensing examinations.


DOs and MDs both practice in fully accredited and licensed hospitals and medical centers.


Both are medical doctors; MD is specifically Doctor of Medicine and DO is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

What Makes DOs Different?
DOs can perform surgery, child delivery, treat patients, and prescribe medications in hospitals and clinic settings.


DOs look at the "total person." Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they look at the whole body.


DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones. This training gives DOs a better understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another part of the body; therefore, DOs have a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.


DOs use what is called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a technique in which the DOs use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, giving special attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Manipulations improve circulation, which in turn, creates a normal nerve and blood supply, enabling the body to heal itself.

Answer 7

A DO would certainly argue with the statement that a Doctor of Osteopathy "is one step below an MD". A DO is as qualified as an MD and requires as much education and practice. Osteopathy is a theory of disease and method of cure founded on the assumption that deformation of some part of the skeleton and consequent interference with the adjacent nerves and blood-vessels are the cause of most diseases. It is a holistic approach to medicine, not relying solely on chemicals.

Answer 8

Doctor of Osteopathy. Some think one step below an M.D., but in reality just a different form of Medical school. I know plenty of DO physicians that also have additional residencies and specializations just like the med school graduates.

Osteopaths usually have more "hand" skills in terms of bone/muscle treatments by the way.

Answer 9

Doctor of Osteopathy- It means that they are trained to look at the body a little bit different than a regular MD. go to wikipedia and type in Medical schools, there is a pretty good explanation of the difference there. By the way, they are not one step below MDs they are just as well trained, and work side by side.

Answer 10

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. M.D.s also are known as allopathic physicians.