Osteopathic doctors (D.O.s) are fully licensed physicians specializing in all areas of medicine.  Osteopathic medicine is based on a philosophy of treating people and not just their symptoms.  D.O.s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine.  Osteopathic physicians keep the patient as the center of importance, using skill in combining many different options to create an individual treatment plan for each patient.   So instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they assess the overall health of their patients, including the influence of home and work environments, and use this information to individualize care. 

D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system – the main structure of the body.   This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part of your body can affect other parts of the body or organ systems.  D.O.s also receive training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).  Through OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and to assist the body’s natural healing activity toward good health.  By combining all other available medical options with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.

For more information on Osteopathic Medicine, please visit the American Osteopathic Association website.