Hmm,
This could open the can of worms but here goes. My intention isn't to pry and you can simply choose to say none of your business and not reply it's just that curiosity overwhelms me sometimes. Also my intention is not to slander or elevate either.
When I was growing up in the Chicago area all my doctors were M.D.s I never heard of D.O. and I don't believe there were any practicing
D.O.s in my area. I moved to AZ and needed a new doc and before I had a chance to find one I had a E.R. situation after successful treatment the E.R. doc advised me to follow up with my family doctor I advised him I didn't have one and asked for a referral, he gave me one and it was another D.O. I went to him and really liked him, I stayed with him until he moved out of state so I again needed a new doc and stayed with another D.O. who I have been with for a long time. My Cardiologist is also a D.O. and I believe I am getting great care ( I'm still here )
I have done research and understand the different approach to medicine, schooling etc... between the two.
I worked with a guy and mentioned one time my DR's were D.O.s and he said " witch doctors" I asked him what he based that on and he had no basis he just said that's what he heard.
I know that at one time M.D.s and D.O.s did not practice at the same hospitals that seems to have changed (at least here in AZ.)
if you look at the staffs they include both although M.D.s seem to have the advantage.
When I lived in Chicago the treatment I received from M.D.s was always good, no complaints. when I moved to AZ. the D.O. thing just kind of happened and I am comfortable with them. My wifes docs are all M.D.s of my 3 daughters 2 have M.D.s one has a D.O.
(I did not push them either direction)
I have found that most D.O.s practice mostly family medicine and tend not to specialize however I see that is changing to.
So who takes care of you M.D. or D.O.
If you have a opinion post it. if not just a simple M.D or D.O.
again not trying to pry just currently bored and curious.
P.S. the DR. that saved my mothers leg from amputation was a D.O. so yes they are surgeons also.

 

All my doctors are MD's, I had to look up what a DO is.

 

IMHO, The differences between the two are getting closer than they were in the past. Each are now understanding the others important views of healing

 

Look up definition of allopathic & osteopathic. Also, recognize both degrees & requirements are state board certified; therefore you can & will find more or fewer practitioners of either DO or MD commensurate with availability of training by state.

 

True,
Here is a example, of my doc and a MD working together. Some time back I was having a problem with severe joint pain in my knees
after a review if the x-rays my doc said you do have arthritis in your knees but not enough to cause the pain your having he hesitated on prescribing a certain pain drug because of the side effects, he suspected one of the drugs I was taking but referred me to a ortho dr a MD to be sure because the suspected drug was important to my treatment after the ortho doc examined my exRays and my knees he concluded the same, not enough arthritis to cause the pain I was having, after conferring with each other they concluded it was the Statins I was taking
My doc suspected that but wanted to make sure not wanting to aggravate the knees, after a two week absence of the statins the knee pain was gone !! doc prescribed a different non statin drug and the pain has not returned.

 

I've gone to an ND for 25 years. I joke with him that it stands for Non-Doctor. He seems to be part psychic, because he knows what's wrong with me even if I forget to tell him.

 

IMO a DO is more well rounded than an MD. MD's want to fix it with drugs........... a DO can prescribe, but will also consider other methods, such as manipulation, accupuncture, accupressure, deep tissue massage, etc. Only DO's for us.

 

If you have a four year college degree, you have essentially the same education as a DO.

 

My former Dr. was a DO (before situation made it more convenient to go with kaiser). When I crashed my dirtbike, the DO was able to manipulate my spine, hips, and neck and get me "straightened out" without drugs. I was miserable for three days between the crash and the doctor appt. I was 100% after the visit. I miss that in my current insurance situation.

 

WTF is a DO? Never heard of it.

 

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - D.O.

 

Thanks. Now that I know what it is, I'll probably need one soon.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

My mother told me D.O.'s are quacks, and I listen to her.

 

I'm laughing, I was in my early 30's when I moved to AZ, never heard of a D.O. either until my E.R. experience
also interesting is we have a lot of Urgent cares here, there is a very large one close by, my daughter has had to visit several times it is staffed with both M.D.s and D.O.s its a crap shoot which one you will get if you visit.
P.S. for what its worth.
When visiting the doctor, chances are you didn’t even check what type of doctor they are - DO vs MD? Perhaps you didn’t even realize that there were two different training routes one can take to become a doctor. An MD, indicating completion of a Doctor of Medicine degree is the most common educational path completed by physicians and accounts for 89% of actively practicing physicians. DO physicians, indicating completion of a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, make up approximately 11% of practicing doctors in the United States. In general, an MD and a DO fulfill the same roles. An MD and a DO complete similar residencies, prescribe medications, and can practice in all 50 states. The main difference in DO versus MD is that DOs complete additional hands on training in a technique termed osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). While there may have been vast differences in the past between DO vs MD, today both types of physicians get the same training in medical school, take the same licensing exams and fulfill the same roles.

 

Or, you can provide a link demonstrating the differences:

https://medicalschoolhq.net/md-vs-do...-similarities/

 

Very comprehensive article ! a bit long but for anyone who really wants to know, worth the read.
Thanks !!

 

If a young person is trying to shape their career for another 4-6 years of medical school & internship after they’ve completed their undergraduate degree, this article would be one of the shortest they read.