Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (
D.O. or
DO) is a four-year
graduate-level academic degree offered to
physicians and
surgeons in the United States. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as
osteopathic medical physicians. D.O.s are trained much in the same way as
M.D.s, with the addition of
osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques.
In the United States, the D.O. and the M.D. are the only two degrees permitting licensure as medical physicians. D.O and M.D. physicians have similar training (both requiring four years of training in the basic and clinical sciences and the successful completion of licensing exams). Osteopathic medical physicians receive additional training in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation. Although U.S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differ. In some countries outside of the United States, D.O.s are known as "osteopaths" and while their scope of practice includes some conventional medical therapies, they rely more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine and other alternative medical modalities.
In the United States, doctors of osteopathic medicine are physicians who are also trained in osteopathic manipulative medicine.
In France, Germany,and Switzerland, osteopathic practitioners are M.D.s who take additional courses in osteopathy after completing their medical training.
