Meaning in doctor’s name

By Metro Creative

When visiting a doctor, patients may be curious about the letters next to the doctor’s name. Doctors may be listed as either MDs or DOs.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, an MD is a Doctor of Medicine and a DO is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Allopathic medicine, which is practiced by MDs, employs medication, surgery and other interventions to treat illnesses. Osteopathic medicine will focus more on the relationship between the mind, body and spirit and treating the person as a whole, although medication and surgery also may be used.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a DO also may use manual medicine as part of treatment, which can include massage and hands-on work on joints and tissues. Both MDs and DOs receive similar medical education and training. Both also must pass the same licensing exam before they can treat people and prescribe medicines. An MD actually established the first DO training program in 1892.

Andrew Taylor Still, MD, started the program when his philosophy about medicine changed after losing three of his children to spinal meningitis. In the aftermath of those tragedies, Still developed the concept of osteopathic medicine. Osteopaths are not naturopaths, who are different medical professionals who serve to heal with natural substances. Both MDs and DOs also may be functional doctors, who look more deeply into whole body systems and root causes rather than just anatomy and symptoms.

— Metro Creative