By Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM), Meridian, Idaho

Ever noticed that some physicians sign “DO” after their name while others use “MD”? It’s one of the most common questions future medical students ask. Both are fully licensed physicians with years of intense education, residency programs, and licensing exams, but they differ in philosophy and training.

At the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM), we help students explore both traditions so they can choose the medical path that fits their values, learning style, and long-term goals.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine vs Doctor of Medicine: Two Roads, One Mission

Modern medicine evolved through two complementary traditions: osteopathic medicine and allopathic medicine.

• • Osteopathic medicine emerged in the late 1800s when Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded the first osteopathic medical school, believing that the human body functions as an interconnected system capable of self-healing when structure and function are in harmony.

  • Allopathic medicine, which became the foundation of the MD degree, focused on using evidence-based interventions to directly treat and cure disease.

Today, both DOs and MDs practice medicine, prescribe medication, and deliver comprehensive patient care. Their education, clinical training, and outcomes are nearly identical. The real distinction lies in emphasis: DOs receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a hands-on approach to health, while MDs focus more on research-based medicine and clinical specialization.

Getting In: Admissions for DO Programs and MD Programs

Both MD programs and DO programs attract top-tier candidates, though their application processes differ slightly.

• • Application systems:

    • MD programs use AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service).

    • DO programs use AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service).

  • Prerequisites: A bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related fields.

  • Academic benchmarks:

    • Average GPA: 3.5–3.7 for DO programs; 3.7–3.9 for MD programs.

  • Personal statement & letters: Both require a personal essay. DO schools often expect at least one letter from a practicing DO physician, underscoring interest in osteopathic philosophy.

  • Service focus: Osteopathic schools tend to value community service, volunteerism, and empathy; MD schools often emphasize research experience.

Tip for applicants: If you value holistic healthcare and preventative medicine, a DO degree may align best. If you’re drawn to scientific research or global specialization, an MD degree could be your match.

Inside MD School and Osteopathic Medical School: Comparing Education Paths

Both MD schools and osteopathic medical schools follow a similar four-year structure:

• • Years 1–2: Classroom and lab-based instruction, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology.

  • Years 3–4: Clinical rotations across multiple specialties, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, OB-GYN, psychiatry, and more.

Where they diverge is philosophy and emphasis:

• • DO students receive 200–500 additional hours of hands-on training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

  • OMM teaches techniques such as muscle energy, soft tissue, and counterstrain, designed to improve mobility, reduce musculoskeletal pain, and enhance the body’s self-regulation.

  • MD programs focus more heavily on advanced biomedical research, diagnostics, and procedural skill development.

Modern osteopathic medical students also complete standardized exams, simulation-based assessments, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), just like MD students.

Licensing Exams and Accreditation for MDS and DOS

To obtain a medical license and legally practice medicine, both DO and MD students must pass national board exams:

• • MD students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), composed of Step 1 (basic sciences), Step 2 CK (clinical knowledge), and Step 3 (clinical application).

  • DO students take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA), which measures identical clinical competencies but includes osteopathic principles and OMM.

Many DOs also sit for the USMLE to maximize residency opportunities.
Both exams are equally recognized by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Accreditation bodies:

• • MD programs – Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) under the American Medical Association (AMA).

  • DO programs – Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) under the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Both pathways require passing national board exams, maintaining ethical standards, and lifelong continuing education.

Residency Programs and Graduate Medical Education for MDs and DOs

Once they earn their medical degrees, graduates move into graduate medical education, residency.

Since 2020, all residencies are accredited under the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), meaning DOs and MDs now train side-by-side.

According to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP, 2025),

• • 93.5% of U.S. MD seniors, and

  • 92.6% of U.S. DO seniors
    matched into residency (NRMP, 2025).

According to national physician-workforce data, about 66 percent of actively practicing U.S. physicians hold an MD degree from a U.S. medical school, roughly 8 percent hold a DO degree, and the remaining 26 percent are international medical graduates (IMGs). By 2023 the number of osteopathic physicians had risen to nearly 149,000, representing more than 11 percent of the total U.S. physician population (AOA Physician Workforce Report 2023). This growth highlights the rapid expansion of osteopathic medicine within the national physician workforce.

The demographic profile of the DO profession is also shifting. It is becoming progressively younger, with 68% of all actively practicing DOs in 2023 being under the age of 45. The profession is also seeing a significant increase in gender diversity; women now represent 44% of all practicing DOs, a substantial increase from just 23% in the year 2000.

Physician Workforce Demographics and Growth Metrics	MD Physicians	DO Physicians	Source(s)
% of Practicing U.S. Physicians (2022)	~66% (U.S. graduates)	~8%
Total Number (2023)	Data not available	~149,000	osteopathic.org
Growth in Licensure (2010–2022)	+18%	+89%	Medical Economics
% of U.S. Medical Students	~75%	>25%	AAMC & AOA, 2024
% in Primary Care Specialties	<30%	~57%	osteopathic.org

Popular specialties among DOs include family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and primary care, aligning with the osteopathic philosophy of serving community health needs. MDs are evenly distributed across all specialties, including highly competitive fields such as surgery, dermatology, and anesthesiology.

DO vs MD Degrees: Comprehensive Comparison Table

Category	Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)	Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Philosophy	Whole-person, mind-body-spirit care	Disease-focused, research-based care
Historical Origin	Founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, 1892	Rooted in European scientific tradition
Admissions System	AACOMAS	AMCAS
Typical GPA Range	3.5–3.7	3.7–3.9
Typical MCAT Range	504–507	511–513
Required Letters	Often from a DO physician	Often from academic/research mentors
Education Length	4 years medical school + residency	Same
Curriculum Structure	Basic sciences + OMM labs + clinical rotations	Basic sciences + clinical rotations
OMM / OMT Hours	200–500 additional hours	None
Key Skills	Osteopathic manipulative medicine, holistic care	Biomedical diagnostics, advanced research
Licensing Exam	COMLEX-USA (Levels 1–3) (+ optional USMLE)	USMLE (Steps 1–3)
Accrediting Body	COCA (AOA)	LCME (AMA)
Residency System	ACGME unified	ACGME unified
Residency Match 2025	92.6% ([NRMP, 2025])	93.5% ([NRMP, 2025])
Practice Rights	Same as MD in all 50 states	Same
Common Specialties	Family Med, Internal Med, Primary Care	All specialties
Global Recognition	65+ countries, growing (AOA)	Worldwide
Professional Association	American Osteopathic Association	American Medical Association
OMM in Practice	Used regularly for musculoskeletal health	Not part of standard training
Preventive Focus	Core training component	Increasingly emphasized
Approach to Patients	Relationship-centered, holistic	Evidence-based, data-driven
Degree Abbreviation	D.O.	M.D.

The Patient Experience: How DOs and MDs Differ in Practice

Both DOs and MDs treat patients, diagnose illnesses, and prescribe medication, but their bedside approaches can look slightly different.

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) often begins with the same physical exam and history an MD would, yet adds a focus on posture, movement, and lifestyle. For example, when a patient presents with musculoskeletal pain, a DO might palpate the spine, assess joint motion, and apply gentle pressure using osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This reflects the osteopathic philosophy that the human body functions as an integrated whole, body, mind, and spirit, and structure influences health.

A Doctor of Medicine (MD) typically relies on diagnostic imaging, labs, and pharmacologic or surgical treatment rooted in allopathic medicine. The two approaches complement each other: DOs emphasize preventative medicine and physical function, MDs emphasize research-based medicine and disease-specific interventions.

Evidence and Outcomes: Are DOs and MDs the Same in Practice?

Multiple studies confirm that both DOs and MDs deliver the same quality of medical care.

• • UCLA Health (2023) reported no statistical difference in outcomes or hospital readmission rates between DO and MD physicians (UCLA Health, 2023).

  • JAMA Network Open (2024) found similar mortality and complication rates across both physician groups in surgical fields (JAMA, 2024).

  • The AOA (2025) reports that one in four U.S. medical students now enrolls in an osteopathic medical program, highlighting growing confidence in the DO pathway (AOA, 2025).

Both degrees produce fully licensed medical professionals who meet identical federal and state medical licensing requirements and graduate medical education standards.

Global Recognition and Practice Rights

While MDs have long enjoyed worldwide recognition, osteopathic doctors have rapidly expanded international acceptance.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, DOs are now fully licensed physicians in more than 65 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa (AOA International Affairs, 2025).

In the U.K., the General Medical Council (GMC) registers U.S.-trained DOs as physicians after evaluation (GMC, 2025).

This increasing global recognition allows both DOs and MDs to participate in international exchange programs, humanitarian missions, and global health research.

Residency Trends and Specialties

According to the NRMP 2025 Main Match Data Report, here’s how DOs and MDs distribute across specialties:

Residency Specialty	% DO Residents	% MD Residents	Notes
Family Medicine	29%	10%	Strong DO representation
Internal Medicine	23%	22%	Nearly equal
Emergency Medicine	12%	11%	Comparable
Pediatrics	8%	9%	Similar distribution
General Surgery	5%	10%	Increasing DO presence
Psychiatry	6%	5%	Balanced growth

(NRMP, 2025)

This data supports a trend: DOs gravitate toward primary care, aligning with their whole-body and preventative care philosophy, while MDs more often specialize in subspecialty and procedural medicine. Both paths, however, now have equal access to every residency and fellowship.

Student Demographics and Diversity

Diversity is shaping the next generation of physicians.
The AAMC (2025) and AOA (2024) both report significant growth in diversity among U.S. medical students:

• • Women make up over 45% of osteopathic medical students and 53% of MD students.

  • Enrollment of underrepresented minorities has grown by nearly 20% over the past five years in DO programs (AAMC, 2025).

ICOM and other osteopathic medical schools emphasize inclusion, rural health service, and training physicians to meet regional healthcare needs, especially in primary care specialties and underserved populations.

Which Path Fits You? (Pros & Cons Matrix)

Choosing between a DO degree and an MD degree isn’t about which one is “better.” It’s about alignment, philosophy, learning style, and career vision.

You Might Prefer a DO Program If…	You Might Prefer an MD Program If…
You believe the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected	You prefer a traditional research-based focus
You’re drawn to preventative medicine and primary care	You’re interested in specialized or academic medicine
You want to learn osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)	You want advanced training in cutting-edge biomedicine
You value hands-on training and a holistic approach	You plan to practice internationally where MDs are standard
You’re passionate about community and family medicine	You aspire to a career in medical research or subspecialties

Both degree programs prepare graduates to treat illnesses, prescribe medication, and improve health conditions across every field of medicine

Step-by-Step Path to Becoming a Physician

Whether you pursue osteopathic or allopathic training, the journey is similar:

1. 1. Earn a bachelor’s degree with strong science coursework.

   2. Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

   3. Apply to medical schools through AMCAS (MD) or AACOMAS (DO).

   4. Complete four years of medical school with didactics and clinical rotations.

   5. Pass national licensing exams (USMLE or COMLEX-USA).

   6. Enter an ACGME-accredited residency program.

   7. Obtain your state medical license.

   8. Begin practicing medicine and continue professional development.

Both DOs and MDs invest roughly 11–15 years from start to independent practice.