One of the most widely misunderstood concepts in the medical field today is the difference between osteopathic (D.O.) and allopathic (M.D.) doctors. Although both are licensed physicians with the same rights and responsibilities, each practice a unique philosophy in medicine. The processes to earning both of these degrees also differ in many ways. From the education to training, the two paths to becoming a certified doctor have its contrasts. Lastly, the perceptions of each of these degrees are not equal. Doctors of osteopathic medicine are often considered inferior to those with degrees in allopathic medicine. In this essay I aim to change this perception and argue that the most important thing is not the physician’s degree, but their genuine …show more content…
This approach to healing specifically aims to address the body, mind, and spirit all at the same time. Addressing this axis provides a mechanism to align the biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology in treating the whole body in order to maintain good health and wellness. This healthcare delivery model is more thorough and highly personalized, instead of just simply relieving the symptoms. The education of this approach teaches physicians to also focus on prevention by exploring how a patient’s lifestyle and environment can also impact their health. The intended result is to promote the wellbeing of each patient by focusing on his or her individual medical needs. Doctors of allopathic medicine practice a conventional approach healthcare, which focuses primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. This healthcare delivery model mainstreams the medical use of drugs or physical interventions to treat or suppress medical conditions. The main focus is set on the presented signs and ailments, often using drugs to treat the symptoms but not the underlying causes. This drug-oriented methodology is effective at quickly comforting patients and reducing their pain, but it may come at a cost depending on the side effects that can manifest from the use of a …show more content…
This is mainly due to a lower mean in MCAT scores and grade point average of those accepted into osteopathic schools when compared to their allopathic school counterparts (Wu). For this reason, the reputation of osteopathic doctors continues to be tarnished. However statistics have shown that the acceptance rate for osteopathic schools is lower than that of allopathic school (“Where Should I Apply?”), signifying that it is statistically more competitive to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine. On the contrary, allopathic applicants are often considered to be more competitive than osteopathic applicants when applying to residency programs. It has been said that students in osteopathic programs seeking to complete and allopathic residency have a 25% less chance of matching compared to students in allopathic programs (“DO vs.