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Exploring Health Professions
Osteopathic Medicine
Osteopathic medicine is one of two routes to a medical
career, the other being allopathic medicine. Its
philosophy 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 include the premed
requirements discussed later in this handbook and the
MCAT exam. Contact with an osteopathic physician is also
required.
For further information contact the American Association
of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, 5550 Friendship
Blvd., Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231, (301)
968-4100, www.aacom.org
and the American Osteopathic Association, 142 East
Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611, (800) 627-1773,
www.osteopathic.org
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