2026 Med School Graduates in 17 Numbers

[WayOutWestMom]

FAQ: What is Osteopathic Medicine?

Osteopathic medicine is a medical discipline that originated in the United States. In 1874, Dr. Andrew Taylor Stills started practicing and teaching a new type of medical practice. He thought traditional medicine (MD) as taught at the time was corrupt and placed too much emphasis on treating symptoms instead of the root causes of illness. Dr Stills’ criticism of traditional medicine was well founded. Prior to the Flexnor Report (1910), there was no universal medical curriculum, nor any accrediting body regulating medical education. Anyone could open a medical school, and there were a large number of for-profit and low quality schools. In some places in the US, medicine and quackery were synonymous. Osteopathic medicine is distinct from osteopathy which is a pseudo-scientific alternative medical practice of manual manipulation of muscle tissue to improve health that is practiced in many countries. (continued)