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Battle of the Allopathic Vs. Osteopathic Physicians

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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What’s the difference between an MD and a DO?

An MD is a Doctor of Medicine, while a DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The bottom line? They do the same job, have similar schooling, can prescribe medication and can practice all over the U.S.

“In general, DOs practice a more holistic, whole-person type of care,” explains Dr. Vyas. “MDs take a more allopathic, or illness-based, approach.”

Allopathic and osteopathic medicine differ in several ways:

• Allopathic medicine uses medication, surgery and other interventions to treat illnesses.
• Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the relationship between the mind, body and spirit. It focuses on treating the person as a whole and improving wellness through education and prevention. DOs also receive extra training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a hands-on method for diagnosing and treating patients.

But these philosophical differences don’t necessarily define the way DOs and MDs practice medicine. For example, DOs use all types of modern medical treatments, and MDs provide whole-person and preventive care.

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What’s in a Medical Degree?

Allopathic and Osteopathic medical schools have similar curriculum structures. Students spend 12–24 months of their program in the classroom and then continue training in clinical settings, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, LifeStyle, Quality Initiatives, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: allopathy, AMA, american medical association, american osteopathic association, AOA, DO, MD, medical degree, osteopathy |