Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level first professional degree for physicians and surgeons, usually requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of the similar, but more common M.D. degree are known as allopathic physicians. The existence of this distinction and of D.O.s as licensed physicians is not widely known.^[1] A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ... Degree ceremony at Cambridge. ... // A first professional degree is an academic degree designed to prepare the holder for a particular career or profession, fields where scholarly research and academic activity are not the work, but rather a profession such as law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, social work, accounting, engineering, religious ministry, or education. ... The word physician should not be confused with physicist, which means a scientist in the area of physics. ... Surgery Surgery is the medical specialty that treats diseases or injuries by operative manual and instrumental treatment. ... The current version of the article or section is written like a magazine article instead of the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia. ... Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ... Allopathic medicine is the name given by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, to the methods of his medical foes. ...

Although U. S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differs. D.O.s outside the U. S. are known as "osteopaths" and their scope of practice excludes allopathic medical therapies and relies more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine and other alternative medical modalities. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (abbreviated as OMM) is a manual modality of treatment used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system (somatic dysfunction). ... Alternative medicine has been described as any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain.[1] Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems not derived from modern science. ...

The Bureau on International Osteopathic Medical Education and Affairs (BIOMEA) is an independent board of the American Osteopathic Association. The BIOMEA monitors the licensing and registration practices of physicians in countries outside of the United States and advances the recognition of American-trained D.O.s. Towards this end, the BIOMEA works with international health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as well as other groups.^[2] American Osteopathic Association Founded in 1898 in Kirksville, MO, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative organization for osteopathic physicians in the United States. ... WHO redirects here. ... The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with 100 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. ...

Demographics

U.S. physicians entering the workforce in 2005, by education.^[3]

• In 1960, there were 13,708 D.O.s and 5 osteopathic medical schools.
• In 2002, there were 49,210 D.O.s and 19 schools.
• Between 1980 and 2005, the number of D.O. graduates per year increased over 250 percent from about 1,000 to 2,800. This number is expected to approach 5,000 by 2015.^[4]
• In 2007, there 25 colleges of osteopathic medicine in 28 locations.^[5] One in five medical students in the United States is enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.^[6]
• By 2020, the number of D.O.s will grow to 95,400, say expert predictions, according to the American Medical Association.^[7]

Further information: Comparison of osteopathic and allopathic demographics

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest association of medical doctors in the United States. ... Osteopathic medicine Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) A.T. Still, M.D. (founder) Schools · Physicians Medicine · US Medical education Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine AOA · Licensure · AACOM Allopathic & Osteopathic Medicine § Comparison § History Index · Wiki Project This box:      This article discusses similarities and differences between allopathic and osteopathic medicine. ...

International variations in the D.O. degree

In the United States, D.O.s are "doctors of osteopathic medicine" who are trained as physicians. In France, Germany,and Switzerland, some osteopathic practitioners are M.D.s who take additional courses in osteopathy after completing their medical training. In the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, “osteopaths" are trained in osteopathic principles and osteopathic manipulative treatment but are not physicians. The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. ... This article is about a type of complementary medicine practiced worldwide. ... Medical education is education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner, either the initial training to become a doctor or further training thereafter. ... Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (abbreviated as OMM) is a manual modality of treatment used to improve the impaired or altered function of the musculo-skeletal system (somatic dysfunction). ...

According to the BIOMEA, in most countries outside the United States, D.O. stands for “diploma of osteopathy,” not “doctor of osteopathic medicine.” The difference is that osteopaths are not trained or licensed as physicians, and therefore do not carry the same practice rights, such as surgery and prescribing medication. However, osteopaths in some countries do act as primary care providers, coordinating treatment with fully licensed primary care physicians.^[8] Primary care may be provided in community health centres. ...

Current status and scope of practice

While there are approximately 55,000 D.O.s practicing within the United States, this number represents only 6% of all practicing physicians. D.O.'s may obtain licensure in any of the fifty states and practice in all medical specialties including, but not limited to, family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, dermatology, surgery, and radiology. The D.O. degree is the legal and professional equivalent of the M.D. degree and as such there is no difference in compensation between allopathic and osteopathic physicians. Doctors of internal medicine (internists) are medical specialists who focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. ... Dermatology (from Greek δερμα, skin) is a branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its appendages (hair, sweat glands, etc). ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ... Image A: A normal chest X-ray. ... This article is about law in society. ... This article is about people called professionals. ...

Practice Rights by State

In the United States, laws regulating physician licenses are governed by the states. Between 1901 to 1973, osteopathic physicians lobbied state legislatures to pass laws giving those with a D.O. degree the same legal privilege to practice medicine as those with an M.D. degree. In many states, the debate was long and protracted. Both the AOA and the AMA were heavily involved in influencing the legislative process. A table of the years in which osteopathic physicians were given "equal practice rights" as M.D. physicians is below.^[9]

International practice rights

International practice rights of U.S. trained D.O.s      Unlimited practice rights generally recognized as equal to U.S.-M.D.s      Unlimited practice rights, granted on individual basis with requirements      Varies by state or province      Limited to manipulation-only

Every country has different requirements and a different way of licensing or registering osteopathic physicians and osteopaths. The only osteopathic practitioners that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as physicians are graduates of osteopathic medical colleges in the United States.^[10] Therefore, osteopaths who have trained outside the United States are not eligible for medical licensure in the United States. On the other hand, US-trained D.O.s are currently able to practice in 45 countries with full medical rights and in several others with restricted rights. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building[1]) , ED headquarters in Washington, DC A construction project to repair and update the building facade at the Department of Education Headquarters building in 2002 resulted in the installation of structures at all of the entrances to protect employees and visitors from... This list of medical schools in the United States includes major academic institutions in the U.S. that award either the doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degrees. ...

The procedure by which international countries consider granting physician licensure to foreigners varies widely. For U.S. trained physicians, the ability to qualify for "unlimited practice rights" also varies according to one's degree, M.D. or D.O.^[11] Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or MD, from the Latin Medicinae Doctor meaning Teacher of Medicine,) is an academic degree for medical doctors. ... D.O. redirects here. ...

The American Medical Student Association strongly advocates for U.S.-trained D.O. international practice rights "equal to that of Allopathic physicians."^[12] The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), founded in 1950 and based in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. ... Allopathic medicine is the name given by Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, to the methods of his medical foes. ...

Many countries recognize US-trained M.D.s as applicants for licensure, granting successful applicants them "unlimited" practice rights. The American Osteopathic Association has lobbied the governments of other countries to recognize US-trained D.O.s similarly to their allopathic counterparts, with some success. In 44 countries, US-trained DOs have unlimited practice rights. In 2005, after one year of deliberations, the General Medical Council of Great Britain announced that US-trained DOs will be accepted for full medical practice rights in the United Kingdom. Josh Kerr of the AOA said that "Some countries don’t understand the differences in training between an osteopathic physician and an osteopath."^[13] The American Medical Student Association strongly advocates for U.S.-trained D.O. international practice rights "equal to that of Allopathic physicians."^[12] Osteopathic medicine (formerly known as osteopathy) is [1] Outside the United States, osteopathic medicine is often used interchangeably with osteopathy. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (a holistic approach) to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury... An osteopath is a practitioner of osteopathy the approach to healthcare named, which emphasises the importance of the musculoskeletal system on general health. ... The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), founded in 1950 and based in Washington, D.C., is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. ...

The following is a table of International Practice Rights of U.S trained Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, as listed by the American Osteopathic Association.^[11]

Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, commonly abbreviated as LMCC, is a physician that has: passed Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) part 1 & part 2 and has completed successfully one year of postgraduate training Being a LMCC is generally a requirement to gain an independent practise licence... The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is the body responsible for the accreditation for postgraduate allopathic medical training programs (i. ... For the Chinese civilization, see China. ... The Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board test (PLAB) is the assessment procedure conducted by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom that is required for overseas doctors outside the European Union before they can practice medicine in the UK. The PLAB test has 2 parts: Has EMQs (extended matching... NHS redirects here. ...

References

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is a non_profit organization established in 1876 involved in the accreditation of medical schools and teaching hospitals in Canada and the United States. ... American Osteopathic Association Founded in 1898 in Kirksville, MO, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative organization for osteopathic physicians in the United States. ... The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association or JAOA is a medical journal of the American Osteopathic Association, published monthly. ... Norman Gevitz, PhD is a medical historian. ... The Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876, is a private institution of higher learning located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. ... American Osteopathic Association Founded in 1898 in Kirksville, MO, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative organization for osteopathic physicians in the United States. ... American Osteopathic Association Founded in 1898 in Kirksville, MO, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative organization for osteopathic physicians in the United States. ...

See Also

• List of Osteopathic Medical Schools

This list of medical schools in the United States includes major academic institutions in the U.S. that award either the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees. ...

External Links

• US-Trained DOs in Ireland. American Osteopathic Association President's Blog. [10]