Does the abbreviation DO doctor of osteopathic medicine mean that the medical professional is also a medical doctor able to practice medicine or an academic doctor?

Answer 1

Yes, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) are medical physicians and can practice medicine or go into academia just like Doctors of Medicine (M.D.). Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctors of Medicine are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training.

Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.