The first time I heard about Osteopathic Medicine, I was venting to a friend after having gone to see my primary care physician about my worsening migraines. He felt ill equipped to treat me and was contemplating sending me on what a dubbed as “a tour of specialists”. He wanted me to see my OB-GYN in case the headaches were hormone related, a neurologist since the headaches were in my head, and an allergist to see if they might be food related. This tour was going to take a few months by the time I had all the appointments scheduled and I was feeling a bit frustrated that I couldn’t take care of it all in one fell swoop. “Have you ever looked into seeing a DO?” she asked. I wasn’t even sure what that was! Turns out, she was referring to a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or a DO for short.
What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine??
Osteopathic Medicine was started in the late 1800’s when a medical doctor took a look at the current state of many treatments and realized many were doing as much harm to patients (if not more) than good. He decided to focus on the body’s own ability to heal itself and coined it “osteopathy”. The field has grown since then, but at its core, osteopathic medicine still focuses on the patient as a whole. DOs partner with their patients to find solutions rather than just prescribe what they have been taught is the “right treatment”.
Are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine real doctors?
DOs are absolutely real doctors. They attend medical school and go through the same licensing process every other doctor goes through. The difference is in how they view the patients they see. While many doctors focus on only on their specialty or a certain area of the body, DOs look at how each body system works with and impacts the others. They also have a strong focus on proactive prevention rather than just reactive treatment.
The field of Osteopathic medicine is growing significantly with one out of every four medical students enrolling in an osteopathic medical school. It seems to be a field that also appeals to women as the number of women DOs under the age of 45 rose 62% between 2010 and 2015, and 48% of DOs in active practice less than 10 years are female. In addition, 55% of all DOs practice in a primary care field (such as pediatrics or family medicine).
Want to learn more about osteopathy or find a DO near you? The website DoctorsThatDO.org is a resource designed to help educate patients about osteopathic medicine. If you are looking for a doctor who is trained to listen to their patients and look at them as people first, this is a great place to start.
Disclaimer: Compensation was provided for this blog via Momtrends The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of American Osteopathic Association or Momtrends..
Miranda (Anosa) says
Interesting read, I had no idea what a ‘DO’ was and if they were real doctors, good to know that they are.
Liz Mays says
This is very interesting. I didn’t know osteopathic medicine was based on prevention. I bet there are some doctors that practice it around here.
Vicki says
I did not know about these Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine! I will definitely be sharing this with my best friend who suffers tremendously from migraines.
Carmen Perez (listen2mama) says
I have not heard of this but definitely sounds like something very interesting. I’m sure I can find some in Florida.
Cat Davis | Mom by the Beach Blog says
When I was first looking for my PCP I saw DO listed a lot but skipped over them as options because I had no idea what that was. Now I’m kinda wishing I hadn’t. I like the idea of a doctor that partners with me in my treatment rather than just shoving pill after pill at me for everything.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I think everyone should have a primary physician that they have a good relationship with, it seems like the DO approach would work well for you. I know we have a number in my area but I have never seen one.
Wendy says
I never knew the difference between a MD and a DO! Thank you! I will have to keep this in mind when I’m looking for a new doctor this fall. My doctor is retiring.
Franc Ramon says
I also believe in the body’s ability to heal on its own. I guess Osteophatic medicine is here to stay and would also be less costly for patients.
Stefany says
My doctor is a DO. I trust him fully with my health and health concerns!
Up Run for Life says
I gave seen both MD and DO doctors. I suffer from back pain and fibromyalgia so I know all about swing multiple doctors for different issues. I always judge a doctor by their knowledge, expertise, and bed side manners.
Chantal says
This post has some great info that I was not aware of. I have only heard a bit about osteopathic medicine before this.
kayla says
Enlightening. Thanks for sharing light on this form of medicine.
Martine - MeUnfinished says
You know, I always wondered about that specialty. Thank you for the information as it was so useful to me. I can now make a better choice in getting my new doctor. Thanks!
Hannah says
This is really cool! I have a friend who went to college for that and she really loves what she does
Peachy A. says
Thanks for sharing I had no idea that such a field of medicine exist. With a lot of talk about prescription medicine I will definitely think about this option next time.