what is the diff bet an MD and DO?

Question

what is the difference between a medical doctor and/or a doctor of osteopathy

Answer 1

As a practical matter there is very little difference. Osteopaths are trained to do some manipulative therapies, while MD's are not. MD's medical school training is a little more intense, but DO's always doing a rotating internship after medical school, whereas most MD's do not.

For board certified residency trained doctors, the letters after there name do not make a dramatic difference.

Answer 2

A doctor of osteopathy is a mix between a doctor of chiropractic and a medical doctor. They learn to treat common musculoskeletal problems through manipulation and natural methods as a chiropractor would, but on the other spectrum they also learn to treat using drugs as an MD would. They have the option of specializing in any field an MD would such as orthopedics, pediatrics, OBGYNs, family medicine or manual medicin to name a few. Most are family practitioners and likely there are many in the town you live in. The DO school is typically easier to get accepted into due to less competition. The tuition is basically the same as for med school or chiropractic school. Most DO's I come into contact with do not practice manipulation rather they are prescribers. The statistics state that only 15% actually use manipulation regularly in their practices although all are taught it in school. It is a good profession and one that leaves you lots of options for treating a patients problems.

Answer 3

MD's attempt to cure everything with either medicine or surgery. DO's look at a bigger picture. For example, if one is pre-diabetic, a MD will look for a drug to treat the symptom; a DO will suggest a diet change and/or activity change. It has been my experience that DO's try to find more of the cause than MDs which focus on symptoms.

Answer 4

the former is more general, the latter is more special.