The D.O. DifferencePrepared by the American Osteopathic Association

Prepared by the American Osteopathic Association

What Is a D.O.?D.O.s are fully licensed physicians who:Prescribe medicine. Focus on preventative health care.Practice a "whole person" approach to medicine.

Why Become a D.O.?History of the profession.

Osteopathic medicine today.

Similarities between D.O.s and M.Ds.

The D.O. Difference.

History of the ProfessionAndrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O.

Founder of Osteopathic Medicine.

First Osteopathic Medical School, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

D.O.s Have Been Making a Difference for More Than a CenturyBarbara Ross-Lee, D.O.

Col. Ronald A. Maul, D.O., M.C., U.S.A.

Similarities Between D.O.s and M.Ds.Fully licensed physicians.

Four years of medical education.

Choose any specialty area.

The Similarities ContinuePass state licensing exams.

Prescribe medication and perform surgery.

Covered by major insurance plans.

Practice in fully accredited and licensed facilities.

The D.O. DifferenceD.O.s practice a whole person approach to care.D.O.s utilize Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT).

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)Requires hands-on approach.Enables D.O.s to treat and diagnose injuries or illnesses.

D.O.s Treat the Whole PersonD.O.s believe a person is more than just the sum of their parts.

Osteopathic Medicine Today20 osteopathic medical schools in 22 locations.

Over 54,000 D.O.s in the U.S.

RequirementsThe average osteopathic medical school applicant meets the following requirements:

Contact InformationAmerican Osteopathic Association 142 E. Ontario St.Chicago, IL 60611(800) 621-1773

www.osteopathic.org or www.aacom.org

D.O.s (doctors of osteopathic medicine) believe that people are more than just the sum of their parts. These fully-licensed physicians practice a whole person approach to health care.

D.O.s are known as physicians who treat people, not just symptoms because they have a unique understanding of how all of the bodys systems are interconnected and how each one affects the others.

D.O.s focus special attention on the musuloskeletal system (your bodys interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of its body mass). D.O.s believe the musuloskeletal system reflects and influences the condition of all other body parts.

D.O.s also believe that lifestyle can have a tremendous effect upon one's health.

Now that you know what a D.O. is, you may be asking yourself, Why should I become a D.O.?"The answer to your question will be obvious once you: Learn about the unique history of the osteopathic medical profession.

Become more informed about osteopathic medicine today.

Compare the similarities between D.O.s and M.D.s.

And, discover what makes D.O.s unique health care providers.

Osteopathic medicine was first described in 1874 by Missouri physician, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. This form of medicine evolved around the belief that the body has intrinsic health abilities. Dr. Still firmly believed in treating the body by improving its natural functions.

Dr. Still had grown to distrust the quality of traditional medicines, many of which were as harmful as the disease from which patients suffered. As a result, he rejected the use of medical cures that were popular in his day, such as leeches and mercury.

In 1892, Dr. Still founded the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. By 1897, knowledge of osteopathic medicine spread, interest in pursuing this new branch of medicine had grown, and the school had more than 500 students. Osteopathic physicians have treated U.S. presidents and Olympic athletes. They have contributed to the fight against AIDS and the fight for civil rights. D.O.s continue to practice the kind of medicine that Dr. Andrew Taylor Still envisioned more than one hundred thirty years ago when he founded the osteopathic profession.

The list of prominent D.O.s is long, however, a few notable D.O.s include:

Col. Ronald A. Maul, D.O., M.C., U.D.A. Dr. Maul is the command surgeon of U.S. Central Command. He also served as the senior medical advisor to now retired Gen. Tommy Franks, U.S.A., former commander of the military forces who led U.S. troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O.Dr. Ross-Lee is currently Vice-President of Health Sciences and Medical Affairs and Dean for the School of Allied Health and Life Sciences at the New York Institute of Technology. When she was Dean of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Ross-Lee became the first African-American woman to head a U.S. medical school. During her career, Dr. Ross-Lee has served on federal health care panels such as the National Advisory Committee on Rural health and the Advisory Committee on Research on Womens Health for the National Institutes of Health.

Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., USPHS (Ret.)Dr. Johnson served as the U.S. Cost Guards Chief Medical Office and Director of Health and Safety. Dr. Johnson was the first woman and first osteopathic physician to ever wear the Coast Guards female flag officer uniform.

William G. Anderson, D.O.,-- who served as president of the AOA from 1994-1995 making him the first African-American to be elected president of a major medical association.

Sue Bailey, D.O.--former Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Dr. Baileys first task as Administrator was to handle the recall of Firestone tires blamed for more than 100 deaths, mostly involving Ford Explorers. Due to her leadership, new safety test guidelines for tires and legislation that requires manufacturers to report foreign recalls has been implemented.

There are many similarities between D.O.s and M.D.s.

Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.D.O.s and M.D.s. can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine.They complete a residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).

Both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable state licensing examinations.

D.O.s and M.D.s are fully licensed to prescribe medications and perform surgery.

D.O.s and M.D.s are both covered by major health care insurance plans.

And, both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.

Just as Rabbis and Priests vary on their religious philosophy, D.O.s and M.D.s also have a different approach to health care.

D.O.s focus on preventative health care and practice a whole person approach to medicine. D.O.s utilize osteopathic manipulative treatment for a hands on approach to health care.

OMT is one of the most unique and distinctive tools of osteopathic medicine.

OMT requires a hands-on, whole body approach to diagnose health problems; treat dysfunctions; preserve good health; and prevent the spread of disease.

In 1999, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine noted that OMT is not only an effective and low-cost form of treatment for low back pain but also a treatment that decreased the need for medications and surgery.

In addition to being used to treat low back pain and musuloskeletal abnormalities, OMT can be used to treat asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, sinus disorders and migraines just to name a few. Instead of just treating specific symptoms, they regard the body as an integrated whole. D.O.s believe that a person is more than just the sum of their parts. They believe that a persons lifestyle (including home, work and social environments) can play a tremendous role in the health of that individual.

Thanks to their extra training, D.O.s have a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another.

Today, there are 20 osteopathic medical schools throughout the United States. In 2004 there were nearly 12,000 students enrolled in osteopathic medical schools.

Currently, there are more than 54,000 D.O.s in the United States. Approximately 65% of D.O.s practice in primary care areas such as family medicine; internal medicine; and pediatrics.

D.O.s also represent 6% of total U.S. physicians and over 8% of all military physicians.To be considered for admission to any of the nation's osteopathic medical schools, applicants typically have a bachelor's degree, with undergraduate studies that include one year each of English, biological sciences, physics, general chemistry and organic chemistry. Other requirements may include genetics, mathematics, and psychology.

Most prospective D.O. students major in sciences with an emphasis in biology or chemistry; however, applicants may major in any discipline as long as they meet the minimum course and grade requirements. Applicants must also take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

Prospective osteopathic medical students must exhibit a genuine concern for people. Applicants may wish to spend some time with a D.O. or do volunteer work in a health care setting before considering a career in this field. Osteopathic medical colleges require a personal interview to assess an applicant's desire to become a D.O.Osteopathic medicine is gaining in popularity as more and more Americans are becoming aware of this unique form of health care.

If you have any questions about osteopathic medicine, contact the American Osteopathic Association at (800) 621-1773 or log onto the AOAs Web site at www.osteopathic.org.

For questions regarding admission requirements, visit the Web site for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine at www.aacom.org.