D.O.s and M.D.s
By Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., M.A.

My family doctor has the initials "D.O." rather than "M.D." after his name. He says he is an osteopathic physician. What is that?

Almost all physicians in this country have earned their degree as either a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) or a Medical Doctor (M.D.). Because most physicians are allopathic physicians (a technical term for those with an M.D.), M.D.s are better known to the public than D.O.s.

There are about 50,000 osteopathic physicians and 20 osteopathic medical colleges in the United States. M.D.s and D.O.s receive similar training. After earning a bachelor's degree, they go to medical school for up to four years. After graduation, they begin two to five (or more) years of postgraduate training that focuses on their specific medical specialty interests. They also must pass a series of licensing examinations.

Whichever medical degree a doctor has, he or she can be trained in any area of medicine, from primary care fields like family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics to specialties like surgery, dermatology, and psychiatry. All doctors are licensed by their states, often by the same licensing board, to diagnose and treat the full range of medical conditions, prescribe medications, and perform a comprehensive range of medical and surgical procedures.

Osteopathic physicians have tended to be family doctors. D.O.s' medical approach to patients has evolved with an emphasis on treating the whole patient and on prevention. D.O.s address the disease process affecting the patient within that context.

Osteopathic physicians also recognize the interrelationship of mind, body, and structure. D.O.s usually have a special interest in the body's spirit and the musculoskeletal system. They may use osteopathic manipulative treatment to treat patients for certain maladies, such as some respiratory problems and back pain. Osteopathic physicians also rely heavily on the tools of prevention.

Today, about two-thirds of osteopathic physicians are in primary care specialties of family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics. D.O.s often practice in the same hospitals and clinics as their M.D. counterparts. Like allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians use up-to-date diagnostic and treatment methods. They accept Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and private insurance just as their M.D. colleagues do.

To learn more about osteopathic medicine, visit the American Osteopathic Association's Web site, www.aoa-net.org.