Comparison of MD and DO in the United States

Most physicians in the United States hold either the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO).^[1] Institutions awarding the MD are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Institutions awarding the DO are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The World Directory of Medical Schools lists both LCME accredited MD programs and COCA accredited DO programs as US medical schools. Foreign-trained osteopaths do not hold DO degrees and are not recognized as physicians in the United States or in other jurisdictions.

The curriculum and coursework at MD- and DO-granting schools is virtually indistinguishable other than the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM),^[2] which is taught at DO-granting schools only. One OMM practice, cranial therapy, has received criticism regarding its efficacy and therapeutic value.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

Both MD and DO degree holders must complete Graduate Medical Education (GME) via residency and optional fellowship in any medical specialty of choice after medical school in order to practice medicine and surgery in the United States.^[8] Since 2020, all DO and MD graduates complete GME training at a program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Before 2020, practicing physicians holding the DO could have completed GME training at a program approved by either the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or ACGME. Historically AOA-approved GME programs either gained approval by the ACGME or were dissolved with the 2020 merger between the AOA and the ACGME.

Physicians who bear an MD or DO can be licensed to practice medicine and surgery in all states.

The history of the MD and DO degrees differ significantly.

^ "What is a DO?". American Osteopathic Association. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
^ Dennis L. Kasper, Eugene Braunwald, Anthony S. Fauci, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson, and Kurt J. Isselbacher, Eds (2012). "10: Complementary and Alternative Medicine". Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 63. ISBN 978-0071748896.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Dubious Aspects of Osteopathy". quackwatch.org. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
^ "Why Cranial Therapy Is Silly". quackwatch.com. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
^ Mohammadi, Dara (18 October 2015). "Chiropractic and osteopathy – how do they work?". The Observer. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^ "Are Osteopathic Physicians Real Doctors?". HuffPost. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^ Cerritelli, Francesco; Pizzolorusso, Gianfranco; Ciardelli, Francesco; La Mola, Emiliano; Cozzolino, Vincenzo; Renzetti, Cinzia; D'Incecco, Carmine; Fusilli, Paola; Sabatino, Giuseppe; Barlafante, Gina (26 April 2013). "Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay in a population of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial". BMC Pediatrics. 13 (1): 65. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-13-65. ISSN 1471-2431. PMC 3648440. PMID 23622070.
^ "DO vs. MD: How much does the medical school degree type matter?". American Medical Association. Retrieved 2 July 2020.

[osteopathic-1] "What is a DO?". American Osteopathic Association. Retrieved 20 December 2014.

[2] Dennis L. Kasper, Eugene Braunwald, Anthony S. Fauci, Stephen L. Hauser, Dan L. Longo, J. Larry Jameson, and Kurt J. Isselbacher, Eds (2012). "10: Complementary and Alternative Medicine". Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 63. ISBN 978-0071748896.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[3] "Dubious Aspects of Osteopathy". quackwatch.org. Retrieved 2016-10-29.

[4] "Why Cranial Therapy Is Silly". quackwatch.com. 15 May 2004. Retrieved 2016-10-29.

[5] Mohammadi, Dara (18 October 2015). "Chiropractic and osteopathy – how do they work?". The Observer. Retrieved 17 July 2019.

[6] "Are Osteopathic Physicians Real Doctors?". HuffPost. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2019.

[7] Cerritelli, Francesco; Pizzolorusso, Gianfranco; Ciardelli, Francesco; La Mola, Emiliano; Cozzolino, Vincenzo; Renzetti, Cinzia; D'Incecco, Carmine; Fusilli, Paola; Sabatino, Giuseppe; Barlafante, Gina (26 April 2013). "Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay in a population of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial". BMC Pediatrics. 13 (1): 65. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-13-65. ISSN 1471-2431. PMC 3648440. PMID 23622070.

[8] "DO vs. MD: How much does the medical school degree type matter?". American Medical Association. Retrieved 2 July 2020.

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