D.O.s are Osteopathic Physicians who are fully educated and licensed to practice all aspects of medicine. They are physicians who may be certified to specialize in family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, and all other medical specialties and subspecialties.

They treat patients and prescribe medicine in offices and hospitals across the country and in the U.S. armed services. They use all of the resources of modern medicine to prevent, detect, and treat disease, but they also offer their patients something extra.

Osteopathic Physicians are specially trained to perform Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a method in which they use their hands to diagnose and treat the patient, giving particular attention to muscles and nerves, joints, bones. OMT is employed to relieve pain and discomfort and, even more importantly, it assists your body’s ability to heal itself.

What is a DO?

The fact is, DOs and MDs are fully qualified physicians licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Is there any difference between these two kinds of doctors? Yes and no.

DOs And MDs Are Alike In Many Ways:

Applicants to both DO and MD medical colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific 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 pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics--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 health care facilities.

DOs comprise a separate, yet equal branch of American medical care. Together DOs and MDs enhance the state of care available in America.

However, it is the ways that DO's and MD's are different that can bring an extra dimension to your family's health care.

DOs Bring Something Extra To Medicine

Osteopathic Medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians.

DOs practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an integrated whole.

Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.

DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system--your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of its body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect another.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is incorporated in the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, and to encourage your body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all available medical procedures with OMT, DOs offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.