What kind of doctor is a D.O.? Does a D.O. have the same training as an M.D.?

Answer From Brent A. Bauer, M.D.

A doctor of osteopathic medicine, also known as a D.O., is a fully trained and licensed doctor. A doctor of osteopathic medicine graduates from a U.S. osteopathic medical school. A doctor of medicine, also known as an M.D., graduates from a traditional medical school.

A major difference between D.O.s and M.D.s is that some doctors of osteopathic medicine use manual medicine as part of treatment. Manual medicine can include hands-on work on joints and tissues and massage.

After medical school, both kinds of doctors must complete training as residents in the specialty they choose. They also must pass the same licensing exam before they can treat people and prescribe medicines.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Nov. 29, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Age isn't a barrier to organ donation
  2. Myths about cancer causes
  3. Plastic surgery
  4. Create a family health record
  5. Do you have a living will?
  6. Emergency essentials: Putting together a survival kit
  7. Emergency health information
  8. Had an eye exam lately?
  9. Kidney donation: Are there long-term risks?
  10. Living wills
  11. Organ donation: Don't let these myths confuse you
  12. Personal health records
  13. Telehealth: Technology meets health care
  14. Web savvy: Choose health sites with care