What's the Difference

DO & MD what's the difference?

Both DOs (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine) and MDs (Doctors of Medicine) are fully licensed physicians who diagnose, treat, and care for patients. The biggest difference? DOs take a more holistic approach and receive additional training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a hands-on technique used to support the body's natural healing.

Both DOs and MDs can work in any specialty, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. It's two paths, one purpose: caring for patients.

Get Informed: practice comparison

The key difference between osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) medicine lies in their philosophy, training focus, and scope of practice; though both are fully licensed physicians in the U.S. Here's a clear comparison:

Topic	Osteopathic (DO)	Allopathic (MD)
Philosophy	Holistic care: focus on the whole person, body-mind-spirit	Disease-focused: emphasis on diagnosis and treatment
Training	Includes 200+ hours Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), a form of hands-on treatment designed to improve or correct numerous ailments	No OMT training
Degree	Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)	Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Licensing Exams	COMLEX-USA	USMLE
Residency	Same ACME-accredited residencies as MDs	Same ACME-accredited residencies as DOs
Practice Scope	Fully licensed in all 50 states to practice medicine, surgery, prescribe medications	Fully licensed in all 50 states to practice medicine, surgery, prescribe medications
Career Path	Practice in all specialties, with many choosing primary care to make a lasting impact on patient and community health	Found in all specialties
Care Approach	Emphasizes preventative care and patient lifestyle	More traditional biomedical approach (though increasingly holistic)

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In practice, most patients don't notice a difference in care, but DOs tend to emphasize hands-on techniques and whole-person care more consistently.

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Family Physicians DO Have a Choice

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Osteopathic? Allopathic? DO? MD? What does it all mean, and how will I decide? Download this comparison.

Family Physicians DO the Work

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Download this infographic to see how family physicians move from classroom to clinic in 11+ years.

Learn More About what sets family medicine apart

Check out the latest research and data to see how DOs are improving patient outcomes, leading in primary care, and shaping the future of whole-person healthcare. Follow us on social media, where we're busting myths and sharing real stories about the power of osteopathic family medicine.