A D.O. is an osteopathic medical physician. Osteopathic physicians are trained to practice medicine and surgery not only in the United States, but the majority of countries worldwide. Note that in the United States, physicians able to provide medical and surgical services include only those with D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) and M.D. (medical doctor) licenses. In contrast to allopathic (i.e., M.D., “Medical Doctor”) training, osteopathic training is focused on treating the person as a whole—body and mind alike. Osteopathy focuses on addressing all systems of a person’s health, rather than focusing on western medical modalities in isolation. Osteopathy was established by A.T. Still, an M.D., in 1892 and has since been ever-increasing in popularity; currently, 25% of the United States’ medical students have elected to be trained in osteopathy rather than allopathy.
What is a D.O.?
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