DO's practice osteopathic medicine which is centered around a more holistic view of medicine in which the focus is on seeing the patient as a “whole person” to reach a diagnosis, rather than treating the symptoms alone. The belief is that all parts of the body work together and influence each other.
http://medicalschoolhq.net/md-vs-do-what-are-the-differences-and-similarities/
MD is short for Medical Doctor. This type of doctor has an allopathic degree. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This type of doctor has an osteopathic degree. Like an MD, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is licensed to practice medicine in any field they choose to specialize in. For example, I practice family medicine, but a DO can be anything from a family doctor or internist to a general surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon or psychiatrist.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/osteopathic-medicine/difference-between-do-md
Both American osteopathic physicians and European osteopaths call themselves DOs. American practitioners are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and European practitioners have a Diploma of Osteopathy. There is, thus, some confusion regarding the difference between U.S osteopathic physicians and osteopaths trained in other countries. Osteopathy as practiced in the United States in the late 1800s was exported to Europe, and spread to the rest of the world.
https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/about-om/US-vs-abroad
Reputation: MD vs DO. Osteopathic medical schools have historically been considered to be less competitive than allopathic medical schools. In 2010, the average MCAT score of students matriculating into osteopathic medical schools was 26.48[5], vs 31.1[6] for students matriculating into allopathic medical schools.
http://medicalschoolhq.net/md-vs-do-what-are-the-differences-and-similarities/
The American Medical Association's current definition of a physician is an individual who has received a 'Doctor of Medicine' or a 'Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine' degree or an equivalent degree following successful completion of a prescribed course of study from a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differences_between_allopathic_and_osteopathic_medicine
The field of osteopathic medicine is expanding. Both MDs and DOs are authorized to prescribe medication. A DO will receive training in the muscular and skeletal system. A doctor of osteopathy is less likely to specialize than a medical doctor.
http://www.wisegeek.org/whats-the-difference-between-a-md-medical-doctor-and-a-do-doctor-of-osteopathic-medicine.htm
Today, U.S. osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully licensed, patient-centered medical doctors. They have full medical practice rights throughout the United States and in 44 countries abroad. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is different than an osteopath: a DO is a physician, while an osteopath is not.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differences_between_allopathic_and_osteopathic_medicine
In the United States, physicians (medical doctors) who practice medicine hold either the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). Other than DO medical students learning osteopathic manipulative medicine, the medical training for MDs and DOs is indistinguishable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differences_between_allopathic_and_osteopathic_medicine
When one decides to become a doctor, there are actually two ways to achieve the title of doctor and practice medicine. One can become a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). Both licenses allow one to practice medicine and have equally rigorous testing. The differences between an MD and a DO lie primarily in philosophy on how to practice medicine.
http://www.wisegeek.org/whats-the-difference-between-a-md-medical-doctor-and-a-do-doctor-of-osteopathic-medicine.htm
A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) is a parallel branch of medicine to a doctor of allopathic medicine (MD). A DO’s training is very similar to that of an MD -- four years of medical school plus residency -- and he or she has the ability to practice in all branches of medicine.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/osteopathic-medicine/difference-between-do-md
what is the difference between a medical doctor and a doctor of osteopathic
MD is short for Medical Doctor. This type of doctor has an allopathic degree. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This type of doctor has an osteopathic degree. Like an MD, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is licensed to practice medicine in any field they choose to specialize in. The difference between a medical doctor and a doctor of osteopathic is, a medical doctor is a type of doctor has an allopathic degree where a doctor of osteopathic is a type of doctor has an osteopathic degree.