An M.D. and D.O. are both doctors in the medical field. D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathy, while M.D. stands for Medical Doctor. While most people are familiar with the meaning of M.D., fewer people know what it means to be a D.O.
Both D.O.’s and M.D.’s attend four years of medical school and take comparable state licensing exams. Osteopathic doctors, however, have additional training in the musculoskeletal system and focus more on the whole person, as well as on preventative care.
Some D.O.’ also use osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT. This is a technique in which the doctor uses his or her hands to help diagnose the injury or illness. Manipulations may then be used to improve the circulation and nervous system functioning, to help the body heal itself.
Since both M.D.’s and D.O.’s have extensive training and rigorous certification, you can feel confident in relying on either kind of doctor to give you state-of-the-art care.
Information obtained from University of Rochester Medical Center 2012