Is an MD or DO Right for Me?

Illustration of a doctor

You know you want to be a doctor. But which medical degree is right for you? Should you be a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)? Let’s take a look at some of the similarities and differences between being an MD or a DO.

What are MDs and DOs?

First, it is important to recognize that both MDs and DOs are fully licensed medical professionals. Doctors holding both degrees work alongside each other in a variety of patient settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practice. After obtaining an MD or DO degree, you can go on to practice in any area of medicine, including specialty fields or even surgery.

However, there are some important differences in the approaches to medicine the two degrees take. MDs have an allopathic approach to medicine, meaning they focus on diagnosing and treating existing medical conditions. On the other hand, DOs have an osteopathic approach, meaning they emphasize preventative, holistic approaches to maintaining overall wellbeing.

An MD’s treatment-centered philosophy often aligns with specialist or surgical roles, while a DO’s preventative approach tends to align well with primary care. Therefore, you may be more likely to see a DO as a family doctor and an MD as a specialist. This doesn’t mean there aren’t DOs as specialists or MDs as primary care doctors, though! What is more important to think about when considering your future medical degree is not just the specialty you are interested in, but also how your values align with the different philosophies of medicine.

Something unique about the DO degree is its focus on osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM)–also known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)–a hands-on technique involving movement of muscles and joints in order to diagnose, treat, and prevent injury or illness. DO medical students spend about 200 hours learning OMM, a topic that is not covered in MD programs.

How do I get my degree?

Obtaining a DO versus an MD degree is a very similar process. For both, you must have obtained your Bachelor’s Degree, completed all general pre-medical course requirements, and taken the MCAT. MD applications are managed through AMCAS, while DO applications are through AAOMAS, but despite slightly different word count limits, the two applications are about the same. Medical school lasts 4 years for both MDs and DOs, and residency can vary around 2-7 years for either depending on the specialty. Starting in 2020, both degrees will even go through the same National Residency Match Program to be placed into graduate medical education.

Whether you choose to apply to both MD and DO programs, just MD, or just DO, choose what is right for you! Make your decision based on your philosophy of medicine, not just the two letters after your name. At the end of the long process, no matter which degree path you take, you will still be a doctor able to treat patients in a variety of settings.