Medical Doctor (MD) Vs Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

Osteopathic medicine represents one of two distinct schools of medicine in the United States. Osteopathic medical institutions issue Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degrees, and allopathic (nonosteopathic) medical institutions issue Medical Doctor (MD) degrees. The educational process is similar in both kinds of institutions, with distinctive differences in the Osteopathic curriculum.

Osteopathic medical practitioners follow accepted methods of physical and surgical diagnosis and treatment; they are also trained to expertly evaluate the neuromusculoskeletal system and seek to achieve normal body mechanics through the use of manual manipulative medicine. Osteopathic physicians recognize the body's ability to regulate itself and mount its own defenses against most pathologic conditions. Osteopathic medicine thus recognizes the neuromusculoskeletal system as crucially important to the full expression of life. Therefore, when assessing the patient, the osteopathic physician considers the body as an integrated unit comprising multiple complex functions and interrelated structures.

Osteopathic philosophy, deceptively simple in its presentation, forms the basis for osteopathic medicine’s distinctive approach to health care. The philosophy acts as a unifying set of ideas for the organization and application of scientific knowledge to patient care. Through the philosophy, this knowledge is organized in relation to all aspects of health (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). A patient-centered focus, using health-oriented principles of patient care and unique skills, including hands-on manual diagnosis and treatment, guide the application of that knowledge.

In the 21st century, this viewpoint is particularly useful as practitioners from a wide variety of disciplines confront
increasingly complex physical, psychological, social, ethical, and spiritual problems affecting individuals, families, and populations from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds.

The Osteopathic profession has changed even as it has grown. It has achieved recognition as a significant part of the American health care system. It is now carefully defining its special contributions to medicine and is undertaking various kinds of research to prove the effectiveness of its manipulative techniques. With these and similar steps toward full realization of the potential of Osteopathic medicine, the profession is securing its position in the modern medical climate.