Many people do not realize that there are actually two different types of physicians which are licensed to practice in the United States, these are Osteopathic physicians and Allopathic physicians. Osteopathic physicians graduate from medical school with a D.O. degree and Allopathic physicians graduate with an M.D. degree.
Both of these physicians are fully qualified to diagnose and treat illness, perform surgery, and prescribe medicine in the US. But, then, what are the similarities and the differences between the two?
Similarities Between Allopathic Physicians and Osteopathic Physicians:
- Prior to attending a medical school which offers either degree, applicants must have obtained a four-year degree with specific science requirements (usually biology, chemistry and organic chemistry are required among others).
- Each has to go through four years of medical school, where they learn basic medical sciences.
- After obtaining the degree, they each go through a residency which may last between two and six years, where they choose and learn their specialty.
- They both have to pass comparable licencing exams.
Although both D.O.s and M.D.s can work as general practitioners or specialists, osteopathic schools generally emphasize primary care training. The subjects taught in the two school types are quite similar as well.
One of the only differences being that in an osteopathic school, the students will learn about Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, which is a method of using the hands to manipulate the spine and joints to relieve pain or reduce other symptoms.
Another difference between the two programs is that they take different exams while in medical school. Allopathic doctors take the USMLE exam, while osteopathic doctors take the COMLEX exam.
Both types of doctors need to take the Hippocratic oath, but D.O.s also take an additional oath to uphold and maintian the core pronciples of osteopathic medicine, these include:
- The body is a unit, and the person represents a combination of body, mind and spiri.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
- Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles: body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
Osteopathic medicine was developed in 1874 by Dr. A.T. Still. He felt that, at the time, many of the medications given to patients were not helpful and may even be harmful. He believed that the muscooskeletal system was the key to good health.