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The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 218,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students.
In addition to advancing the distinctive philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine, the AOA promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for DOs and acts as the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools.
July 20, 2026: AOA launches 2026-2029 Strategic Plan: ‘Your Journey. Our Shared Commitment.’
The AOA has launched its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan to support osteopathic physicians and medical students, promote the value of the profession, strengthen education and research, and develop physician leaders.
July 18, 2026: Richard R. Thacker, DO, MACOI, installed as 130th President of the American Osteopathic Association
Serving as the AOA’s 130th President, Richard R. Thacker, DO, MACOI, brings over three decades of leadership through his roles as associate dean for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM), a past president of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) and former chief of staff at Capital Regional Medical Center, among others.
April 17, 2026: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Postpones modifier 25 policy in response to osteopathic advocacy
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan postponed its proposed modifier 25 reimbursement policy following dedicated advocacy from the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA), the AOA and partner osteopathic medical societies.
April 16, 2026: American Osteopathic Association celebrates top rankings for osteopathic medical education in U.S. News & World Report rankings
The new U.S. News & World Report rankings highlights colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) for accounting for a majority of the nation’s top medical schools graduating physicians into primary care in rural and medically underserved communities.
March 20, 2026: Record number of DOs secure residency positions through 2026 NRMP Match
The osteopathic profession celebrated a record-breaking success in the 2026 NRMP Match, where a historic 7,928 graduating DO seniors achieved a 93.2% match rate, led by top placements in internal medicine, family medicine and emergency medicine.
March 11, 2026: AOiA positioned as early leader as CMS elevates digital health evaluation nationwide
The American Osteopathic Information Association (AOiA) commended the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for establishing the Medicare App Library using Digital Medicine Society evaluation criteria, recognizing AOiA’s early leadership in adopting those same standards to ensure safe, evidence-based digital health tools for patients.
There are two types of physicians in the U.S.: Medical Doctors (MDs) and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs). Their training and education are similar and equally rigorous, involving four years of medical school followed by specialty training in a residency program. Both types of physicians practice in every medical and surgical specialty in the United States.
DOs bring a unique approach to the practice of medicine, focusing on prevention by examining how a patient’s lifestyle and environment impact well-being. As part of their education, DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system (the body’s interconnected system of muscles, bones and joints), enabling them to provide patients with an advanced level of comprehensive care.
Today, there are approximately 149,000 licensed and practicing osteopathic physicians in the US, which is just over 11% of the physician population. Osteopathic medicine is the fastest growing medical field in the US, and one in four medical students in the United States is training to be an osteopathic physician.
Osteopathic medicine is practiced by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, who make up 11% of the physician population in the US.
The osteopathic philosophy of medicine sees an interrelated unity in all systems of the body, with each working with the other to heal in times of illness.
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 218,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students. In addition to advancing the distinctive philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine, the AOA promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for DOs and acts as the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools. Learn more about DOs and their distinctive body, mind, spirit approach to care.
‘Osteopathic physician’ and ‘osteopathic medicine’ are the terms to use for DOs. ‘Osteopath’ and ‘osteopathy’ refer to foreign-trained, non-physician healthcare professionals.
Osteopathic physician (DO) should be used when referring to a fully licensed physician who graduated from an accredited osteopathic medical school in the United States and is qualified to prescribe medication and practice in all specialty areas including surgery.
Osteopath describes a healthcare provider trained outside of the United States who does not qualify for licensure for the unlimited practice of medicine.
Osteopathic medicine should be used when referring to medicine practiced by osteopathic physicians who graduate from accredited osteopathic medical schools in the United States. Osteopathy should only be used when referring to the occupation of osteopaths trained outside of the United States who do not qualify for licensure for the unlimited practice of medicine.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is the proper name for the degree granted by osteopathic medical schools in the United States and is represented by the acronym DO. Do not use Doctor of Osteopathy. DO also may be used in place of osteopathic physician.
Use the DO designation when referring to an osteopathic physician in the first reference:
State a DO’s specialty as:
Hold more than one professional degree? Use:
Use the terms family medicine and family physician instead of general practice and general practitioner.
Refer to osteopathic medical schools with their osteopathic identification:
Like MDs, DOs complete four years of medical school, followed by post-graduate training that may include an internship, residency and fellowship. Physicians licensed as DOs, like their MD counterparts, must pass a stringent national medical board examination and complete post-graduate training in order to be eligible for state licensure. DOs and MDs may also become board-certified in the practice of their medical specialty.
One way in which DOs are distinct from MDs is they receive an additional 200 hours of training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Through their training, DOs come to understand the body’s musculoskeletal system, an interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones.
DOs partner with patients to help them get healthy and stay well. They take a whole-person approach to treatment and care, focusing on the body, mind and spirit of their patients. DOs practicing OMM provide diagnosis and treatment through a system of techniques that also help alleviate pain, restore motion and support the body’s structure to help it function more efficiently.
View the AOA’s annual Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) report for more information and current data on osteopathic medicine.