DOs Are Like MDs Plus: Understanding the Difference
When people ask me about the difference between an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) and a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), I like to say something simple but true:
π “DOs are like MDs — PLUS.”
In the United States, all D.O.s are fully licensed physicians. We attend four years of medical school, complete rigorous licensing exams, and enter residencies in every specialty of medicine. We prescribe medications, order tests, and perform procedures in all 50 states.
(Important note: Outside the U.S., the title “osteopath” often refers to osteopathic manual practitioners who are not physicians and do not have the same training or licensing as U.S.-trained D.O.s.)
So, what’s the PLUS? Let’s break it down.
π©Ί Equal Training, Different Philosophy
Both M.D.s and D.O.s:
- Complete four years of accredited medical school.
- Take national licensing exams (USMLE for M.D.s, COMLEX for D.O.s, though many D.O.s take both).
- Enter accredited residency programs, often training side by side.
- Practice with full physician rights.
But osteopathic medical education adds something: a philosophy of whole-person care and training in hands-on treatment that makes a difference.
π The “PLUS” of Osteopathic Medicine
Here’s what makes osteopathic physicians distinct:
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Extra Training Hours
- While many M.D. students may have summers off, osteopathic medical students continue their training.
- D.O.s receive 200–500 additional classroom and lab hours studying the musculoskeletal system and the way structure and function are interconnected.
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Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
- A unique physician-level hands-on treatment approach.
- Gentle, precise techniques that relieve pain, improve mobility, support the nervous system, and restore the body’s natural healing ability.
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Additional Exams
- Beyond the standard medical boards, D.O.s also take the COMLEX licensing exams, which test our mastery of osteopathic principles.
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More Tools in the Toolbox
- Medications, imaging, procedures — yes, we have all those.
- But we also have our hands as diagnostic and healing tools. That’s something even many M.D.s admire (and some are eager to learn themselves).
π° What the Media Is Saying
Osteopathic medicine is entering the national spotlight:
Together, these articles capture the crossroads of osteopathic medicine today: Will D.O.s be seen as simply “the same as M.D.s,” or as physicians who bring something extra to the practice of medicine?
π The Still Waters Way
At Still Waters Osteopathy Lake Orion, we embody that “PLUS” every day.
- A boutique, bespoke experience: From the warm BioMat on the treatment table to tea service and the comforting presence of our corgis, our environment invites your body into healing.
- Physician-level expertise: As a board-certified osteopathic physician trained in both family medicine and emergency medicine, I integrate the best of modern medicine with the unique insights of osteopathic medicine.
- Whole-person healing: We don’t just treat symptoms — we listen deeply, place our hands with precision, and guide your body back toward its natural state of balance.
π¬ Final Reflection
D.O.s are like M.D.s PLUS — plus extra training, plus hands-on treatment, plus a philosophy that sees you as a whole person, not a collection of symptoms.
At Still Waters, that “plus” is not an afterthought. It is the centerpiece of how we practice osteopathic medicine: with skill, presence, and the belief that your body was designed to heal.
Come experience the “plus” for yourself and book an appointment today!