What is the difference between an MD and a DO?
top An MD is a Doctor of Medicine and a DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. They basically cover the same subjects during four years of medical schools and can choose to practice and become board certified in any specialty. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine has some additional training in musculoskeletal medicine, including osteopathic manipulative treatments, which they may include in their practice.
An MD is a medical doctor who graduated from a medical school. A DO is an osteopathic medical doctor who graduated from an osteopathic college. Both types of institutions prepare the student to become a physician, but the osteopathic college places more emphasis on the role the bones play in health. Students at an osteopathic college must learn the same things students at medical schools do, and must pass the same kinds of tests. Both types of physician may do any type of medical procedure, and both may practice any of the recognized specialties.
Both are Doctors. An MD is an allopathic Medical Doctor. He or she has gone through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and a specialty residency of 4 years. A DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine. A DO has 4 years of college training, 4 years of Medical school at a school of osteopathy, which teaches the same courses as an allopathic MDs medical school plus courses in skeletal manipulation. A DO also completes a 4-year specialty residency. The two are equally qualified to practice medicine and anesthesiology.
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
