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There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students!
The AOA’s 2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report provides an annual update on the growth within the osteopathic medical profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine.
What began as a revolutionary set of founding principles introduced by frontier physician A.T. Still, DO, in 1874, has expanded into a community of physicians and medical students dedicated to caring for the body, mind and spirit of millions of patients across the nation. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students. Since the AOA began keeping these records in 1935, the total number of DOs has increased by 158,000 (1,721%).
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, now practice across a wide range of medical disciplines, combining their expertise with a whole-person approach centered on listening to and partnering with their patients. Today the osteopathic medical profession represents approximately 11% of all physicians and more than 25% of all medical students in the U.S.
More prospective physicians than ever are choosing to become DOs, with nearly 40,000 medical students attending 44 colleges of osteopathic medicine across 71 campuses. DOs hold some of the most distinguished positions in medicine today, caring for the U.S. President, overseeing the NASA medical team and leading some of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and health systems. About 38% of military physicians are DOs.
This spring, the profession welcomed nearly 9,000 new DO graduates and, in the fall, more than 40,000 osteopathic medical students are expected to matriculate in the 2025-26 academic year. In addition, approximately 40,000 osteopathic medical students are enrolled for the 2025-26 academic year, bringing the total number of DOs and osteopathic medical students across the nation to 207,158.
Total DOs & Students
207,158DOs in the U.S.
167,216Source: AOA Physician Masterfile; number of living DOs includes an estimated 8,978 graduates in 2025.
DOs bring a distinctive approach to caring for patients across the full spectrum of medicine, with a significant number choosing to pursue careers as frontline physicians in primary care specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Reflecting the profession’s ongoing commitment to primary care, 53% of osteopathic candidates matched into primary care residency programs in 2025. These physicians—and those who will join the workforce in coming years—will play a critical role in helping to alleviate a shortage of up to 86,000 U.S. physicians by 2036, as projected by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Approximately 45% of DOs currently practice in non-primary care specialties, a 1% increase over the past decade. As the demand for well-rounded physicians continues to grow, DOs are playing an increasingly critical role in both primary care and specialized fields. Their ability to provide a whole-person approach, combined with their rigorous medical training, positions them well to meet the complex needs of patients in today’s healthcare landscape. Top non-primary care specialties for DOs in 2025 include emergency medicine, anesthesiology, OB-GYN, psychiatry and surgery.
of candidates matched into primary care programs
53 %of DOs practice in other specialties
45 %Source: AOA Masterfile
Nearly 70% of DOs in active practice today are now under age 45, reflecting a notable increase in the number of new graduates entering the profession during the past decade. The number of female osteopathic physicians is also on the rise, accounting for 45% of all DOs in active practice. This percentage increases to 48% for those under age 45. Women now make up more than 55% of all osteopathic medical students, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).
of active practice DOs are under 45
70 %of osteopathic medical students are female
55 %Source: AOA Masterfile
In 2025, DO seniors achieved a 99% final residency placement rate: the highest for all applicant types.
The next generation of osteopathic medical students and residents continue to be in high demand with their unique ability to embrace new technologies such as digital health and AI, while preserving the osteopathic philosophy’s dedication to human connection and whole-person health.
As the profession grows, DOs will have a greater influence on the healthcare systems of the United States and other countries. DOs will increasingly shape healthcare policy, improve access to care and expand into additional countries.
These osteopathic physicians—and the generation that follows—will play a critical role in ensuring a robust and talented healthcare system. The osteopathic profession is in demand and on the rise.
osteopathic medical students
40,000colleges across 71 campuses
44