Know Your Terminology: M.D. vs. D.O.
Understanding the terminology you will encounter working in the healthcare industry is critical; and the first set of acronyms you face will be on the front door of any medical practice you visit, “Medical Offices of John Smith, M.D. and Jane Doe, D.O.”
What is the difference between a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)? In the past 20 years the lines between the two schools of medicine have become increasing blurred and up until about 15 years ago not all major healthcare organizations credentialed D.O.s into their system. For young people entering medical school the trend indicated those who were not accepted into a MD program turned to and were accepted into the D.O. program. Statistics supported this fact with the difference in GPA and MCAT scores that were recorded between the two entities. In 2010 the average MCAT and GPA for students entering US-based M.D. programs were 31.1 and 3.67 respectively and 26.49 and 3.47 for the D.O. curriculum [Source]. However, the scores do not tell the whole story. It is widely known that osteopathic programs are more likely to accept non-traditional students - who are older, coming into medicine as a second career, and are non-science majors. The D.O. medical schools believe the older applicants are more emotionally sound and culturally competent, thus making them a better candidate to becoming a physician [Source].
M.D.s study allopathic medicine – the practice of conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically active agents or physician interventions (surgery) to treat or suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of disease or conditions [Source].
D.O.s study osteopathic theories which encompass all the benefits of conventional medicine including prescription drugs, surgery, and the use of technology to diagnose disease and evaluate injury; combined with the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment through a system of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine. D.O. students take approximately 200 additional hours of med school to study manipulation therapy [Source]. D.O.s view the patient as a “total person” and treat the whole body rather than treat a specific illness or symptom.
There are several educational similarities and requirements between the two licenses.
- Both D.O.s and M.D.s typically have a four-year undergraduate degree prior to medical training.
- Both D.O.s and M.D.s have spent four-years in medical education. Both take the MCAT and are subject to a rigorous application process.
- D.O.s, like M.D.s, choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine and complete a residency program ranging from 3-7 years. Some D.O.s complete the same residency programs as their M.D. counterparts.
- M.D. students take the USMLE exam and D.O. students take the COMLEX exam. Both must pass a state licensing examination to practice medicine.
Understanding the difference between an M.D. and D.O. practitioner is not as significant as appreciating the time and dedication it took these individuals to achieve the status of “Doctor.” Both M.D.s and D.O.s are recognized and licensed in all 50 states. There are 20 schools of Osteopathic medicine in the U.S., 126 accredited U.S. M.D.-granting medical schools, and 16 accredited Canadian M.D. granting schools.
For further reading visit American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) and the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Look for future installments of our primer in medical terminology for VARs! Once we complete the series we will offer a quick reference guide in PDF for for those we are interested, be sure to sign up to receive updates in the right hand column!