What's the difference between MD and DO?

[LaptopLover]

<p>Title says it all…</p>

[MikeF]

<p><a href=“Maintenance Page - MomMD”>Maintenance Page - MomMD;
gotta love google.</p>

[madamebovary]

<p>Straight from Wikipedia (comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medicine)

There is disagreement on the differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine.[1] According to the Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22 ed., “other than teaching [osteopathic] manipulation, undergraduate medical training for an osteopathic degree (D.O.) is now virtually indistinguishable from that which leads to the M.D. degree. Osteopathic physicians complete conventional residencies in osteopathic or allopathic hospitals and training programs; are licensed in all states; and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to allopathic physicians and surgeons.”[2]

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<p>Essentially there is very little difference other than that D.O.s learn an additional thing called Osteopathic Manipiulative Medicine. However, if you are asking me if the OMM works, i really have no idea. Salary wise is the same because salary depends on what specialty you become. Easiest way to think about it, a doctor is a doctor. If one really wants to become a physician, either degrees are viable routes to reach one’s goal</p>

[GoldShadow]

<p>I know there have been other threads on this, search for them.</p>

[Dragonicebreaker]

<p>The main difference between MDs and DOs is how they approach medicine. Allopathic doctors (MDs) are more focused on the treatment of the ailment. DOs have a kind of naturalistic approach and try to treat the whole body.</p>

<p>This, however, is an oversimplified approach to explaining the difference. The easiest way to find out is to seek doctors of each degree and shadow them. You will see the difference in their practices.</p>