Osteopathic Doctor vs. Doctor of Medicine

DOs and MDs Receive Equal Training but May Have Different Approaches to Care

Medical doctors (MDs) and osteopathic doctors (DOs) are both types of physicians who can practice in all medical specialties.

The main difference is that, while both use modern and scientifically proven medical treatments, osteopathic doctors look at patients as a "whole person" consisting of a mind, body, and spirit, and tend to focus on preventative medicine.

MDs tend to focus on medication and other interventions to treat illness. DOs also receive extra training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a hands-on method for diagnosing and treating patients. A patient might choose one over the other based on which approach seems like the best fit for them.

This article will look at the philosophy behind osteopathic medicine, and the differences in training requirements for DOs vs MDs.

Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country. DOs account for approximately 11% of doctors in the United States.

The Path to Becoming an Osteopath (DO) Physician
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine

Doctors who have an MD degree practice allopathic medicine, a term coined during the early 19th century to differentiate homeopathy (which uses natural substances to stimulate the immune system) from science-based medicine. 

By contrast, doctors with a DO designation practice osteopathic medicine, a medical discipline that emphasizes the treatment of illnesses through the manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles. While some people will describe it as "alternative medicine," a physician with a DO degree is held to the same standards as an MD.

Both attend four years of medical school and complete their training in the same residency programs. Doctors who want to be board-certified in a specialty will take similar tests for certification, regardless of their designation as an MD or DO.

Osteopathic Medicine and the Whole Person

The philosophy behind osteopathic medicine is centered around a "whole person" approach to care, emphasizing wellness and prevention as opposed to just treating an illness.

While this was considered a major difference in the past, MD programs now actively embrace the approach, educating doctors to look beyond the symptoms and to integrate mind and body in a more holistic and thoughtful way.

Traditionally, doctors of osteopathic medicine have pursued careers in family medicine. In recent years that has changed, with graduates now pursuing a wider range of medical and surgical specialties.

Physicians with DO degrees should not be confused with non-medical osteopaths, who have no medical background and are trained solely in body manipulation. They not only lack the skills to treat medical conditions, but they are also barred from using the DO designation in the United States.

Four Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine

The four tenets, or principles, that guide osteopathic medicine are as follows:

  1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
  2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
  3. Structure and function of the body are interrelated.
  4. Treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.

A whole person approach is increasingly being recognized and used by MDs.

Osteopathic Medical Training

There is a lot of overlap in the training involved in becoming an osteopathic doctor and a medical doctor, but there are some differences as well.

Students who want to become MDs or ODs must:

  • Complete four years of medical training
  • Complete a residency program lasting three to seven years, depending on the specialty
  • Pass a licensing examination

The requirements differ in these ways:

  • A DO receives extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which teaches them to perform osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a series of hands-on techniques used to help diagnose illness or injury and facilitate the body's natural tendency toward self-healing.
  • In addition to the licensing examination, DO students also take the Comprehensive Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX), while MD students take the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE).

Side by side, MD and DO degrees are virtually identical, allowing those carrying the distinction to practice the full scope of medicine in the United States and 64 other countries.

The same does not apply for physicians who have attained their DO degrees abroad. These degrees are not recognized in the United States.

Osteopathic doctors are specially trained in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMM). "Manipulation" in this case is a general term used to refer to several different techniques in which the DO uses their hands to apply pressure or force to the body. OMM is one way that DOs treat structural and functional issues in the bones, joints, tissues, and muscles of the body.


Summary

Osteopathic doctors (DOs) and medical doctors (MDs) both receive rigorous, traditional medical training. ODs differ in that they use a "whole person" approach, taking into consideration the environmental and spiritual factors that shape a person. DOs also receive extra training in a hands-on manipulation technique to help diagnose and treat certain ailments.

10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Osteopathic Association. What is osteopathic medicine?

  2. American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic medical manipulation explained.

  3. Davidson J. A Century of Homeopaths. Springer New York. 2014. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-0527-0_1

  4. Ahmed AH, Schnatz PF, Adashi EY. Allopathic and osteopathic medicine unify GME accreditation: A historic convergence. Fam Med. 2019;49(5):374-7.

  5. UCLA School of Medicine. DO vs. MD: What's the difference?.

  6. Stark JE. A historical perspective on principles of osteopathyInternational Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2013;16(1):3-10. doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2012.10.001

  7. Association of American Medical Colleges. Active physicians with a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree by specialty, 2015.

  8. Gevitz N. From “Doctor of Osteopathy” to “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine”: A title change in the push for equalityJ Am Osteopath Assoc. 2014;114(6):486–497. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2014.099

  9. American Osteopathic Association. International licensure.

  10. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Whole person health: What you need to know.

By Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FN
Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine.