The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 197,000 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.
May 22, 2025: AOA and AOIA issue statement on Israeli embassy staff shooting
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) joins with the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) to express our profound sorrow in response to the tragic shooting deaths of two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday evening.
We were shocked and saddened to learn that an AOIA employee has been arrested as a suspect in this horrific crime. Both the AOIA and AOA stand ready to cooperate with the investigation in any way we can. As a physician organization dedicated to protecting the health and sanctity of human life, we believe in the rights of all persons to live safely without fear of violence.
In this time of grief, we extend our deepest sympathy to the victims’ loved ones and all others impacted by this act of violence. We wish for peace, comfort and strength in the days and weeks ahead.
For media inquiries, please reach out directly to [email protected].
April 13, 2025: National Defense Authorization Act recognizes American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) recognized the AOA’s Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists as a physician certifying organization that meets the criteria as outlined in the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The AOA BOS oversees the administration of initial board certification and osteopathic continuous certification for 16 specialty certifying boards, including 27 primary specialties and 48 subspecialties. READ MORE
March 21, 2025: Record number of DOs secure residency positions through NRMP Match
Over 8,000 osteopathic medical students and graduates matched into training programs during the 2025 NRMP Match, setting a record for the most DO students matching. This match cycle saw a 92.6% match rate, demonstrating the strong value that osteopathic physicians contribute. AOA President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.), CS, said, “We are ecstatic to see that our osteopathic medical students and graduates are being actively sought out by residency programs in every specialty across the practice of medicine.” READ MORE
Select a question below:
There are two types of physicians in the US: 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 197,000 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 the DOs. ‘Osteopath’ and ‘osteopathy’ refer to foreign-trained, non-physician health care 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 health care 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.