What does the DO at the end of a doctor's name mean?

Answer 1

DO after a doctor's name means that the doctor is a graduate of an osteopathic medical school in the United States. The degree the doctor is granted is a "Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine," which is given the initials "D.O."

Osteopathic Medical schools began granting "D.O." degrees back in the 1800's however it took until as late as the 1960's before Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons were fully liscensed in all 50 states. All Osteopathic Physicians are trained in the United States whereas not all Allopathic Physicians (M.D.'s) are trained in the United States. Osteopathic Medical schools differ from M.D. schools in that they teach a more holistic philosophy, Osteopathic Principles and Practices called "Manipulation," in addition to traditional medical school curriculum such as anatomy, pharmacology, and pathology.

In several states M.D. and D.O. schools are on the same university campuses and have the same professors teaching.

Because there are fewer Osteopathic Medical Schools than Allopathic Medical Schools in the United States most people are not familiar with the difference and just refer to their doctor as "doctor" and not Osteopathic or Allopathic.

In the United States there are approximately 760,000 liscensed M.D.'s and only approximately 70,000 licensed D.O.s. By the year 2020 it is expected that osteopathic physicians will grow in number and comprise approximately 20% of the United States Physician population.

For more information on Ostepathic Physicians (D.O.s) go to the American Osteopathic Associations website www.Osteopathic.org

For more information on the history of osteopathic medicine and D.O.s read the biographical book "The DO's" author: Norman Gevitz, Ph.D.

For more information on schools of osteopathic medicine go to the The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine website www.aacom.org