There are hundreds of jobs in the healthcare industry, and the most well-known is the doctor. However, did you know that there are two different types of doctors? As a matter of fact, MDs and DOs are both medical doctors!
Maybe you just found out about this during a patient visit or heard from a friend. In any case, you’re now curious as to what the difference is between the two. In this article, I’ll be giving you an overview of each profession and explaining what the main differences are between MD and DO doctors. Finally, I’ll be going over how you can decide whether you should see an MD or a DO. This way, you’ll be able to pick the best doctor for your needs. Keep on reading! 🙂
Table of Contents
What Is an MD?
An MD is a doctor with an M.D. degree. M.D. stands for Doctor of Medicine and is a doctorate-level medical degree earned by those who successfully complete four years at an allopathic medical school. This degree plus years of extensive training enable MDs to provide medical care and treat patients at the highest level. (This is probably the one you’ll be most familiar with, as an MD is essentially the traditional doctor.)
MDs are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians – as opposed to osteopathic physicians, which we’ll discuss in a bit. The term “allopathic” was first coined by Samuel Hahnemann in 1810
and is mainly based on treating patients with medications and procedures. In allopathic medicine, there is a focus on treating specific conditions or diseases. Simply put, allopathic physicians practice evidence-based, modern Western medicine.
What Is a DO?
Now that we’ve covered what MDs do, let’s talk about DOs. A DO is a doctor or physician with a D.O. degree. D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and is a doctorate-level medical degree earned by those who successfully complete four years at an osteopathic medical school. Like MDs, DOs provide medical care and treat patients at the highest level.
DOs are called osteopathic physicians. Osteopathic medicine was developed in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still and involves a subtle difference in philosophy by introducing therapeutic elements. In osteopathic medicine, there is emphasis on treating the whole patient, manipulating the musculoskeletal system, and promoting preventative care. Osteopathic medicine is rooted in the knowledge that all body systems are interconnected and must be treated accordingly for optimal health, as opposed to treating each body part independently.
Interesting fact: As you’ve probably inferred already, DO is a less well-known path to becoming a physician. You’re likely more familiar with MDs. The majority of doctors – approximately 81%
What Are the Similarities and Differences Between an MD and a DO?
In terms of responsibilities and scope of practice, DOs are virtually the same as MDs. Like MDs, DOs can practice medicine without oversight. Both MDs and DOs can become generalists, specialists, and perform surgery. Moreover, both follow the same training track – medical school, residency, and fellowship (for some).
The main difference between MD and DO is that DOs are osteopathic physicians, meaning they learn the same material as MDs but are trained with an emphasis on holistic care.
Interesting fact: The majority of MDs are specialists, often because medical school loan debt is extremely high (on average more than $200,000
Meanwhile, most DOs are generalists (given the philosophy of osteopathic medicine), opting for primary care fields.
There is much overlap between allopathic and osteopathic medicine. Many MDs adopt elements of osteopathic medicine into their practice. Similarly, many DOs choose to forgo the complementary elements in osteopathic medicine and practice in a way that more closely resembles conventional, allopathic medicine.
Here’s a Venn diagram summarizing the top similarities and differences between MD and DO physicians:
Conclusion
The next time you’re looking for a doctor, you may want to think about whether the allopathic or osteopathic philosophy resonates with you more. All in all however, depth of knowledge and scope of practice are virtually equivalent for MDs and DOs so don’t focus too much on the degree itself. Your time would be better spent researching specific physicians that you might be interested in seeing, checking if they’re Board-certified, patient reviews, etc.
If you want to learn more about how to find a specific type of provider for your medical needs, be sure to check out my article “4 Steps To Find The Best Healthcare Provider (For Your Insurance).” In this article, I break down how to find a doctor or any other healthcare provider into four simple steps. I also include some pro tips to help you navigate potential obstacles you may run into, as well as how to schedule and prepare for your appointment. Until next time, stay safe and keep learning! 😀