Allopathic & Osteopathic Medicine

Physicians (and other specialists) have many career options available and new opportunities emerge with each advance in medical knowledge and with each development in the organization of medical services. The physician's responsibilities cover a wide range of functions in the maintenance of health. These include diagnosing disease, supervising the care of patients, prescribing treatment, and participating in improving the delivery of health care. Although most physicians provide direct patient care, some concentrate on basic or applied research, become teachers or administrators, or combine various elements of these activities.

New patterns of practice are emerging. A physician may work in a private office, group practice, a managed care system, clinic, hospital, laboratory, industry, military, university, government, or combination of the above. Managed care is probably the most significant change in the delivery of health care in the last decade. Students planning a career in medicine should be well-informed concerning this.

There are 126 allopathic medical schools in the U.S. Once matriculated, a medical student studies for four years before earning the M.D. degree. Graduating students select one of 24 general medical specialties for residency training after completion of medical school. Residency training can require three to twelve years to complete, depending on the choice of specialty.

Osteopathic medicine is one of two routes to a medical career, the other being allopathic medicine. While preparation for these two specialties is similar in many ways, the philosophy of osteopathic medicine states that health is a matter of the entire body - each system interdependent with the others.

In brief, osteopathic physicians (D.O.'s) are fully-licensed and recognized physicians and surgeons who stress the unity of all body systems. They place special emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, holistic medicine, and proper nutritional and environmental factors. While D.O.s practice in every medical specialty, many are in general practice, with special emphasis placed on preventive medicine and service as family practitioners.

Currently, twenty colleges of osteopathic medicine offer a four-year post-baccalaureate program leading to the D.O. degree. Graduates go on to do residency training in their chosen area of specialization. Prerequisites for study in an osteopathic school are essentially identical to those for allopathic medicine. Contact with an osteopathic physician, usually in the context of a clinical internship, is also required.

Association of American Medical Colleges
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine