Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the DO degree are known as osteopathic physicians and have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as MDs. Although DOs have traditionally been family physicians, today many physicians holding the DO practice in every specialty field in medicine.

DOs are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine and surgery in all 50 states, equivalent to their MD counterparts. Depending on state, licensure may be issued from a combined board (DO & MD) or a separate board of medical examiners;^[1] regardless, all of the 70 state boards are members of the Federation of State Medical Boards.^[2]

Currently, there are 26 medical schools in 34 locations across the US that offer the DO degree,^[3] compared with 134 medical schools that offer the MD degree.^[4] Osteopathic physicians comprise 7% of the total US physician population; there are over 70,480 DOs in the country, of which 63,121(up to date Resource?) are in active practice.^[5] Furthermore, as of 2011, 1 in 5 medical students in the United States are DO students.

Education and training

Osteopathic medical school curricula closely mirrors those of allopathic (MD) medical schools. The first two years focus on the biomedical and clinical sciences, followed by core clinical training in the clinical specialties. Osteopathic medical school accreditation standards require training in internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, family practice, surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, radiology, preventive medicine and public health.^[6] According to Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, "the training, practice, credentialing, licensure, and reimbursement of osteopathic physicians is virtually indistinguishable from those of allopathic physicians, with 4 years of osteopathic medical school followed by specialty and subspecialty training and [board] certification."^[7] However, osteopathic physicians also receive an additional 300 – 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system integrated into the medical curriculum, which is referred to as Osteopathic manipulative medicine^[8]

Upon graduation from medical school, many DOs attend the same internship and residency training programs as their MD counterparts^[9] and then take MD specialty board exams.^[10] In addition, the osteopathic medical profession has its own specialty training programs^[11][12] and specialty board examinations^[13] for DO graduates.

Licensing and board certification

To obtain a license to practice medicine in the United States, medical students must pass one of two licensing boards at the conclusion of their medical training: USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Exam) or COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam).^[14] Those that have received or in the process of earning a MD or DO are both eligible to sit for the USMLE. Because of their additional training, only holders of the DO are eligible to sit for the COMLEX.^[15]

Upon completion of internship and residency requirements for their chosen medical specialty, and depending on whether the program attended as ACGME or AOA accredited, holders of the DO may elect to be board certified by either an allopathic specialty board (through the American Medical Association's American Board of Medical Specialties) or an osteopathic specialty board (through the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists certifying boards).

International variations

There are currently no osteopathic programs located outside of the United States that qualify an individual to practice as an osteopathic physician in the United States. Foreign osteopathic degrees are not recognized by any state in the U.S. as being equivalent to American D.O. degrees.

International practice rights

Every country has different requirements and a different way of licensing or registering osteopathic physicians and osteopaths. Osteopaths who have trained outside the United States are not eligible for medical licensure in the United States; however, U.S.-trained DOs are currently able to practice in over 55 countries with full medical rights and in several others with limited rights.^[16]

The following is an International Licensure Summary for US-trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, as listed by the American Osteopathic Association:^[17][18]

See also

• List of medical schools in the United States

References

External links

• One DO's description on "What Is A DO?"
• Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) - National Institutes of Health

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