What is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO)?
An osteopathic doctor (DO) is a specific type of physician. A DO degree is equivalent, though different in certain aspects, to a medical degree (MD). Both medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) complete four years of medical education and both complete between three and six years of graduate medical education (residency training) depending on their chosen specialty. Both types of physicians must pass comparable examinations as a condition of licensure. The main distinction between DOs and MDs is that, in addition to traditional medical training, osteopaths receive extensive training in the body’s musculoskeletal system. This is the interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of a person’s body mass. According to the American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic manipulative treatment or OMT is incorporated into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and i
