Who is doctor of osteopathic medicine

A qualitative grounded theory study of the conceptions of clinical practice in osteopathy - a continuum from technical rationality to professional artistry. Man Ther. Updated by: Amit M. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Editorial team. Doctor of osteopathic medicine. Alternative Names. Osteopathic medicine. Health Topics A-Z Read more. Compare physician training requirements to those required for other types of clinicians.

DOs practice medicine according to the latest science and technology, but also consider options to complement pharmaceuticals and surgery. Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing health care professions in the country, with one out of every four medical students enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.

The profession has a long history of providing care where patients lack doctors. The osteopathic curriculum involves four years of academic study, with an emphasis on preventive medicine and holistic patient care. DOs serve a one-year internship, gaining hands-on experience in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics and surgery.

This experience ensures that osteopathic physicians are first trained as primary care physicians—even if they plan to pursue a specialty. Many DOs then complete a residency program in a specialty area , which typically requires two to six years of additional training. Andrew T. Still, a MD who was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th century medicine, pioneered osteopathic medicine. He was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health to better understand disease.

Still's philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts and identifies the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. He introduced the idea of returning the body to health through manipulation based on a thorough understanding of the body's systems. In , Dr. Still obtained a state charter to establish the first osteopathic medical school in Missouri.