<p>I am not sure I understand the difference between MDs and DOs.</p>
<p>What is the difference in the schools and programs? Do graduates take the same medical board exams? What is the difference in career opportunities? What is the difference in medical practice?</p>
<p>I am asking this as a person who may be helping a niece and a nephew who are considering becoming doctors.</p>
<p>Difference between DO and MD</p>
<p>[Comparison</a> of MD and DO in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_MD_and_DO_in_the_United_States]Comparison”>Comparison of MD and DO in the United States - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>The biggest difference is that DOs are trained in Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT), although that has been greatly de-emphasized in recent years. Some people say that DOs take a more holistic view of patients and illnesses than do MDs.</p>
<p>MDs take the USMLE (US Medical Lincensing Exam). DOs can take the USMLE, but usually they take the COMLEX (Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam). Both confer eligibility to practice medicine in the US.</p>
<p>DOs have their own residency programs, although they can enter also the MD residency match.</p>
<p>DOs can specialize in the same areas that MDs do, including surgery, cardiology, anesthesiology, etc. I believe (but not 100% sure) they take same specialty board exams.</p>
<p>No difference in practices, although in some areas of the US DOs are less common than MDs and there may be some lingering resistance/discomfort with a DO (vs a MD), particularly with older patients.</p>
<p>(For example, in eastern PA where I grew up there were tons of DOs, but in the southwestern state where I currently live, DOs are rare. Likely because there’s no nearby DO school.)</p>
<p>DOs and MDs can and often do work in the same group practices.</p>
<p>Believe the attitude about MD vs DO has changed in recent years. In the mid-seventies when I completed my undergrad studies, the really smart kids who were choosing medicine when to med school (MD), the ones who weren’t quite as smart/didn’t have the same high credentials to go to a ‘real’ med school went to DO school. Always said I wanted to see MDs for that very reason. I want the most highly qualified/brightest physicians taking care of me and those I love. Doesn’t seem to be the case these days!</p>
<p>We have a very good D.O. school in Texas, producing high quality physicians and surgeons. I wouldn’t hesitate seeing one who went there…but ain’t nobody cracking my back. :)</p>
<p>US M.D. schools are all excellent places to learn. I’m not sure that excellence exists, top to bottom, in DO schools.</p>
<p>If you want to become a PCP, then DO will surely help you towards that. If you want to specialize, its better to go MD. Ultimatley everybody who says that MD=DO is just saying bs. MD > DO > CaribMD. DO schools are easier to get into so if your not good enough to be an MD, then DO is a back door option that still allows you to become a doctor. The whole OMT vs Allo thing is just nonsense. If you can get into an MD school, go for it, don’t even think about DO.</p>
<p>thanks for all the info and resources for me to look at</p>