MD vs DO: What's the difference?

MD's and DO's are all equally qualified physicians. (Contrary to what Hasan Minhaj may think)

[NimlothEnnue]

Yes! Not to be confused with a chiropractor, who typically are NOT medical doctors

[andrewkristufek]

As a current second year Osteopathic medical student, I really do appreciate this video. Becoming a physician has always been my dream (surgery is the goal). Keep up the great content!

[melissaconnellyjones]

I love that you cover and simply explain topics that people outside of healthcare might not understand.

[jpStarBurst]

I can state unequivocally that I was exceedingly lucky one day when while in my doctor's waiting room for what seemed like forever & barely able to inflate my lungs I was asked by the staff if I minded seeing his partner instead who wasn't an MD but a DO. I said I'd love to see him. I thought I had pneumonia or bronchitis because my breathing was so severely constricted. It turned out that I had dislocated all of my ribs from my spine and they were compressing my lungs. I swear it was like something you'd see on a TV show instead of actual life. I walked in barely able to draw a breath. The doctor made some quick movements that caused loud popping sounds from my back. I sat up and easily drew the deepest, full breath of air for the first time in days. I'm forever grateful for that day.

[tracybreese]

The best doctor I ever had was a DO. He was a truly great doctor and a very kind man. He delivered both of my children and I received the best care. I was so sad when he retired.

[alexreid]

I’ve never even heard of DOs, but it actually sounds like a really good fit for me since I have a lot of nerve and muscle issues. Kinda sad no one ever told me about them

[rosyreverie]

I’m a second year DO student. People seem to forget that A.T. Still, the founder of the first osteopathic school, was actually an MD. Osteopathic schools teach all the same things as MD schools.

[mauramaloney]

Agree that it is the osteopathic that trips people up since osteopaths (which is usually used for practitioners who do only osteopathic manipulation) are decidedly NOT physicians. I remember having a conversation with an Australian who wondered how on earth Sean Conley managed to become the Physician to the President since he is a DO. They didn't realize that an osteopath and an osteopathic physician are very different in the US.

[tommiegirl]

Standing ovation, Doc Schmidt! 👏👏👏 Your educational content is every bit as good as your comedy. Keep em coming!

[katieh]

My DO is amazing. Not because he's a DO, that's just a bonus, but because he's an amazing doctor and really cares about his patients. Good doctors equal good doctors and any other training they get is just a bonus! Thank you Doc Schmidt!

[kurtisfalcone]

I specifically went to a DO for OMT. I was having shoulder and back issues and after several session it cleared up. Not all DOs practice OMT after medical school. I highly recommend it.

[JaneDoe-ipyl]

I'm glad you did this. D.O's do get a bad rap -not a "real doctor" was even blasted by the news making it worse.

[Ghostchickie]

I work with a lot of DOs and they’re really great. Love both my MDs and DOs.

[garyfye]

Thanks Doc Schmidt. I'm a DO and I sometimes can get a bad rep just for my title. Most people don't mind in the least however! I appreciate this video!

[melodycreamer]

As someone who has switched over to seeing a DO for my primary care doctor, it is mostly the same except I think that DOs often tend to think more holistically in terms of care especially for chronic illnesses. I think this is largely due to self selection into the programs, rather than the curriculum but it is still quite a big plus for someone who is dealing with chronic issues

[cindy]

Important note to remember though: This is not the case in every country.

[mypupismup]

And most DO students still take Step 1 and 2, so they’re training for the same test and MD students.

[groupsixpartners]

“To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease.” - A.T. Still, DO, Founder of Osteopathy Thank you for your summary = excellent. I worked for an Osteopathic Medical Board - and we answered this question daily. The public may not realize that a medical license (osteopathic or allopathic) is simply, “Physician and Surgeon” - w/o qualification for specialty. Of course good luck getting privileges (or credentialed) w/o Board Eligible/Certification. And most states require at least 36 months GME for licensure.

FUN FACT: In California, DOs could exchange their DO Degree for an MD.

In 2000, we (regulators) were discussing why the difference ? And would it hold or would osteopathy (OPP/OMT) morph into a specialty or something? Didn’t think so, but most states have combined licensing boards.

However, the single national match was a game changer in integrating MDs and DOs into more specialties.

Will the COMLEX fall to the USMLE? NBME vs NBOME?

From a licensure view - they are the same - all the powers and obligations as physicians. I found DOs to be as flakey in renewals and CMEs as many doctors. And equally likely to have problems licensing boards care about. Ironically - we never dealt with an issue that was strictly osteopathic.

Osteopathy history is interesting. Andrew Taylor Still’s life was really tragic- as a civil war physician- he felt powerless in treating illness that his kids died from. And he got to thinking more about how the whole body is impacted by DX. - and voila - a new school of medicine.

Fascinated by Ear Wax: In Stills book, “Philosophy of Osteopathy” (circa 1899), he talks about EAR WAX - 🧐 he devoted an entire chapter to the subject beginning, “That nature makes nothing in vain is an established truth …. I asked myself to try and get a reason of why nature had made and placed in a person's head so much fine machinery just to make a little ear-wax. If nothing is made in vain, what is that bitter stuff made for? It is always there, and more being made all the time.”

I thought that tidbit might be interesting to a “poop doctor” (the body doesn’t waste…) 😉

Keep the content coming.

[rebeccaedginharrington]

This was super helpful as I was recently assigned to a PCP that happens to be a DO. I was a little sketched out at first.

[madsthefreed]

My psychiatrist is a DO and I absolutely love him - he really focuses on the totality of my health, and always asks lots of questions about my mental state and how I’m doing physically. I feel like he sees me as a real person instead of a collection of body parts.