MD vs. DO: What’s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?

Avery Orrall.

When I first started my journey in pre-medicine, I assumed I would graduate from NYU and attend medical school to earn my title as an MD, or medical doctor. I only recently began to consider the alternative: becoming a DO, or doctor of osteopathic medicine. DOs make up only 7.3% of active physicians in the United States, while MDs make up 67.4%. The remaining 24.2% attained their degrees from outside the United States. So what’s the difference between MD and DO and why does it matter?

By definition, an MD is a medical doctor practicing allopathy, or the application of medicine that aims to combat the disease and its effects by use of remedies. By contrast, osteopathy is labeled a method of “alternative medicine” that aims to treat ailments by manipulation of the body by physical means. It also focuses more on preventative rather than reactionary medicine. According to the American Osteopathic Association, osteopathy uses a “whole person approach” to medicine and aim to provide the most comprehensive care available. According to this opinion article written by an MD, even DOs do not fully believe in osteopathic medicine, and many websites assert that the treatment you will receive from a DO is virtually indistinguishable from MD treatment. So then, realistically, what is the difference between MD and DO?

Strictly speaking, DO medical schools have a lower acceptance rate than MD medical schools, although the average MCAT score and overall GPA are lower for DO medical schools. Typically, DO physicians tend to work in primary care whereas MD physicians tend to specialize and practice in metropolitan areas, meaning that, on average, MDs have higher salaries than DOs. DOs must perform 200 more hours of training to learn musculoskeletal manipulation techniques. As for the application process, it is slightly different for each school: for DO medical school, the AACOMAS application is used instead of the AMCAS application for MD schools. Dual degrees, such as MD/PhD, are less common at osteopathic medical schools. DOs must pass the COMPLEX exam to obtain a medical license, whereas MDs must pass the USMLE. Residency programs are virtually the same, although MD has more specialty medicine opportunities.

Despite the differences between them, each process is equally as difficult as the other and the patient care is virtually indistinguishable. The negative stereotypes about DO should not deter a prospective medical student from exploring all of his or her options: at the end of the day, a physician is a physician. Providing adequate patient care is essential, no matter what degree you obtain.