Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) are fully licensed physicians, able to practice in all areas of medicine. When a doctor specializes in a field of medicine, they choose to focus on a specific group of patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy. As an osteopathic doctor, the approach becomes holistic, looking for whole-body or whole-person treatments when possible.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Education
An osteopathic doctor must complete four years of medical school, plus three to nine years of medical training and residencies for the chosen specialty. After earning their degree, a DO must pass the state licensing exams and national boards. The only difference between a doctor of medicine (MD) and an osteopathic doctor is the education and approach. A DO goes beyond general medical education and residency training with a natural and holistic approach and a focus on the body as a whole.
What Is the DO Approach?
The doctor of osteopathic medicine approach is holistic, looking for natural medical solutions for the patient. A DO has four tenets to consider in their medical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment:
- The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
- The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
- Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
- Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
Osteopathic doctors differ from medical doctors in their approach, thus differing their treatments. A DO considers the four tenets when diagnosing and treating their patients, whereas MDs practice allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine is where medical professionals treat symptoms, diseases, or illnesses with drugs, radiation, or surgery.
The Average Salary of an Osteopathic Doctor
The average salary for a doctor of osteopathic medicine is $206,351 per year. A common misconception is that DOs get paid less than doctors of medicine (MD) but do not differ due to having the same credentials. However, the physician’s salary will differ based on their specialty.
Can DOs Specialize?
Osteopathic Doctors can specialize in any of the medical fields, however about 57 percent of practicing osteopathic physicians practice in the primary care specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and osteopathic manipulative medicine. The non-primary care specialties for Osteopathic Doctors include emergency medicine, anesthesiology, general surgery, and psychiatry.
What is the average salary of a DO in Primary Care?
Primary Care medicine is made up of several specializations with different salary averages, this list only references some of the fields, not all.
- A doctor of osteopathic medicine in family medicine makes an average of $200,828 per year.
- The average salary for a DO in internal medicine is $219,863 per year.
- The average salary for a DO pediatrician is $166,002 per year.
- The average salary for osteopathic manipulative medicine is $164,120 per year.
What Is the Average Salary of a DO in a Nonprimary Care Specialization?
Nonprimary fields consist of several medical specializations, all with different salary averages. This list only references some of the fields, not all.
- The average salary of an osteopathic doctor in emergency medicine is $280,23 per year.
- The average salary of an osteopathic doctor in psychiatry is $216,733 per year.
- The average salary of an osteopathic doctor in general surgery is $300,650 per year.
Are DOs Becoming More Popular?
Yes. Osteopathic medicine has seen a 77% increase in program enrollment in the last decade. There are hundreds of DO job openings, with more than 7,000 osteopathic doctors hired in 2022. The osteopathic career field is expected to grow over the next few years.
Looking To Start Your Osteopathic Medicine Education?
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the growing field of osteopathic medicine, learn more about starting your education at Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Our program offers clinical and medical education, as well as research opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills in this holistic approach to patient care. DOs can specialize in any medical field, offering a full mind and body outlook for the course of treatment, separating them from medical doctors who rely on prescriptions and radiation.