What does "D.O." mean after my doctor's name?

Question

For example: "Bob A Smith, DO" vs. "Bob Smith, MD".

Answer 1

<>Doctor of Osteopathy...a "total body" doctor. Here's the difference:
http://www.stronghealth.com/services/primarycare/domd.cfm
http://www.medschoolchat.com/pdfarticle413.pdf

Answer 2

A D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic medicine is a complete system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with current practice of medicine, surgery and obstetrics. The emphasis is on the interrelationship between structure and function, and has an appreciation of the body’s ability to heal itself. Osteopathy is defined differently outside the US.

D.O.s are trained to apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (a holistic approach) to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury using conventional medical practice such as drugs and surgery, along with manual therapy (Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine or OMM).

As with Doctors of Medicine (M.D.s), D.O.s educated in the United States are fully licensed physicians and surgeons who practice the full scope of medicine.

Answer 3

People that are DO's go to Osteopathic medical colleges. Most often, its because they couldn't get into a regular MD earning program.

I personally like the "whole body" approach of DO's however.

Answer 4

Doctor of Osteopathy. A doctor who is trained to treat the whole organism of the person rather than just one organ or system when there is a health problem. They also use musculo-skeletal therapy, if needed.

Answer 5

I have no idea but it's a very very good question,it's about time people stopped hiding behind the letter abbreviations after their name and explained just what it is they do.Have a star