They are fully licensed physicians in medicine and surgery with prescription and hospital privileges in all 50 states.
D.O.'s practice in specialties from neurosurgery to family practice.
Unlike M.D.'s, D.O.'s receive 300-500 additional hours of traning in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
Osteopathic medicine is a system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with the current practice of medicine and surgery.
Their philosophy puts an emphasis on internal relationships of structure and function, with an appreciation of the body's ability to heal itself.
D.O.'s and M.D.'s typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses.
Both D.O.'s and M.D.'s complete four years of basic education.
After medical school, both D.O.'s and M.D.'s can choose practice in a specialty of medicine, such as surgery, obstetrics, or sports medicine, after completing a residency program (usually 2-6 years of additional training).
D.O.'s and M.D.'s must pass comparable state licensing exams.
D.O.'s and M.D.'s both practice in fully accredited and licensed hospitals and medial center.
Osteopathic physicians (D.O.'s) attend unique medical schools; in addition to the traditional four year comprehensive medical education, there is an additional emphasis on disease prevention and treatment of the total person, rather than their disease alone.
D.O.'s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones.
This training gives them a better understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another part of the body; therefore, D.O.'s have a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.
Other than that, there are few differences.