What is the difference between a DO and an MD?
822429
A "DO" is not a "doctor of obstetrics" but a "doctor of osteopathy." They attend osteopathic medical schools that add physical and alternative treatments similar to chiropractic to the standard curriculum and must pass the same board exams as for a doctor of medicine. \n\n"FACOG" means "Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists." This is board certification in women's medicine and a great credential. It means they have had a residency in OB./GYN, a mimimum number of years in practice and have passed a specific exam for their specialty. (Someone "board eligible" is in this process and also highly qualified.)\n\nThere are subspecialties in fertility, oncology and other types of OB/GYN, so you may want to ask about this training. You would want a reproductive medicine specialist if you are having fertility problems, and MD or DO doesn't matter, the specific training does. \n\nNever be afraid to ask what the initials stand for. "PC" isn't a certification or degree at all, for example , but stands for "professional corporation" and is a business thing, nit a medical one. No decent physician or their staff will hestitate to tell you their credentials and experience, so ask.
942609
Optometry is a medical profession. The practitioner has obtained a degree of O.D. from a 4-year program following a Bachelor's Degree. \n\nOpthamology is the branch of medicine specific to the visual pathways and requires a M.D.
680811
Only a doctor (an MD) can prescribe antidepressants and antianxiety drugs. And psychiatrists are MDs. Psychologists and other mental health professionals can't prescribe drugs, but a medical doctor who is not a psychiatrist can.
1143759
Medicine: An M.B.B.S. doctor who specializes in medicine and acquires an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree becomes physician. A physician job is to understand patient’s problems, study the results of clinical tests, diagnosing the illness and then prescribing the course of treatment.\n\nPediatrics: A medical doctor who specializes in Pediatrics is called Pediatrician. A pediatrician deals with the children’s health from newborn to adolescents. A pediatrician diagnoses and conducts treatment of the disease peculiar to children.\n\nCardiology: Cardiology deals with disorders of the heart. A Cardiologist performs specialized work like bypass surgery, angiography, angioplasty etc.\n\nObstetrics AND Gynecology: Obstetricians and Gynecologists diagnose and treat the disorders in female reproductive organs. Obstetricians and Gynecologists also conduct operations like caesarian, laparoscopies and hysteroscopies. These specialists also deal with ovarian cancer and other illnesses related to reproductive systems.\n\nNeurosurgery: Neurosurgery is the surgical discipline focused on treating the central and peripheral nervous system. Neurosurgical conditions include primarily brain and spinal cord disorders. The medical doctors specialized in this field are called Neurosurgeons.\n\nOrthopedics: Orthopedic surgeons deal with illness of the skeletal structure. They diagnose and treat fractures and disorders of the skeletal frame. An orthopedic suggests therapies and exercise for patients which are conducted by Physiotherapists.\n\nOphthalmologists: Ophthalmologists diagnose and conduct treatment for the diseased human eye. Ophthalmologists are trained to conduct surgeries of the eye, operations for the removal of cataract, treatment of glaucoma and other such diseases and infections of the eye.\n\nPsychiatry: A medical doctor who has specialized in Psychiatry is called Psychiatrist. A psychiatrist treats mental, emotional or behavioral disorders.
899742
Your M.D. is conferred at graduation, but that doesn't mean you can get a license to practice medicine. States require different levels of post-graduate education, but at least an internship year and in many states a three-year residency are minimal requirements for licensure.
858664
I don't believe you can say one is better than the other.  It is like apples and oranges.  Having children that have gone through both, here is what I can tell you.  Law School is 3 years of intense reading and studying; Medical School is much longer, depending upon if you specialize.  It could end up 10 years if you become a surgeon, specialize in any particular field.  What is more difficult?  Definitely Medical School.  You go longer, have grueling hours and pecking order up the  ladder, it is rough!
270237
The US does not have the same progression for medical training as other countries.\n\nIn the US most students complete a 4 year bachelors degree in biology, genetics or other relevant degree and then go on to Medical School to receive their MD.  In this case the bachelors can cost anywhere from 5,000-40,000 a year dependant on what kind of financial aid you get and whether you go to a private or public university.  Then medical school can run you upwards of 100,000 to complete your MD.\n\nIt is possible to graduate with 50,000 - 200,000 in debt by the time you are finished with all that school.
952328
Premed - 4 years\nMed (DO) school : 4 years\nFP residency : 3 years\n\nThere are a lot of good DO schools.\n\nTo get into any graduate med school (DO/MD), you have to do VERY well in your premed courses. For MD school, you need the MCAT exam, I'm not sure about DO school.
587498
Well, I was going to answer but then I saw you're from Ireland so I'm not for sure but in the US one main difference is the dissertation which you have to do before you can get a PhD.  The diploma says you have completed all of the class work required but has nothing to do with the clinical experience and residency which usually takes 4 more years I believe.\n\nSeeing that you are from Ireland, how would you like to do something a little tiny bit illegal?\n\nE-mail me for the question.\n\ni_lander@yahoo.com
545026
Hi,\nBoth types of doctors can be just as qualified as the other.  Medical Doctors have what we think of as "traditional" American Medical Training whereas Doctors of Osteopathy are trained more to think about the whole patient, instead of focusing on one area or body part.  They take extra training in muscular-skeletal issues.  I put a link to explain more about D.O.'s; but like everything else, it depends on the doctor.  There are good and bad M.D.'s and good and bad D.O.'s.\n\nGood luck in finding a GREAT physician!
198633
The DDS is a professional degree and indicates that the person holding the degree has completed training in that profession.  It is equivalent to an MD, except it applies to the field of dentistry.  I suppose it is roughly equivalent to a PhD, however research (including a master's degree) and professional degrees differ in the way that candidates are trained, so they're not comparable (I say this from experience)
453706
D.M.D. stands for Doctor of Medical Dentistry and D.D.S. stands for Doctor of Dental Science.  There is no difference in the two other than the state the doctor graduated from.  Some states bestow the title D.M.D. on the gradutate while other states bestow the D.D.S. title.
441299
An optometrist is a non-MD eye doctor. Go to an optometrist if you need routine eye care and an eye examination. \n\nAn opthamologist is a MD (medical doctor) who specializes in diseases of the eye. While they could, most don't do routine eye exams. Go to an opthamologist if you have an eye disease or are referred by an optometrist or another physician.\n\nThe optician is the person who makes glasses. Go to the optician after you get a prescription for your glasses or contacts from the optometrist or opthamalogist.
593379
what is the difference between the two
15165
An M.D. is a physician, a medical doctor educated in medical school. A D.O. is a doctor of osteopathy, educated in an osteopathic school. Historically, the osteopaths learned skills in manipulation of the body as a treatment for musculoskeletal conditions in addition to more traditional medical and scientific coursework. They had separate licensing requirements and separate hospitals. \n\nDOs and MDs are alike in many ways:\n\n* Applicants to both DO and MD colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses.\n\n* Both DOs and MDs complete four years of basic medical education.\n\n* After medical school, both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine—such as psychiatry, surgery, obstetrics, or sports medicine—after completing a residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).\n\n* Both DOs and MDs must pass comparable state licensing examinations.\n\n* DOs and MDs both practice in fully accredited and licensed hospitals and medical centers.\n\n* Both are medical doctors; MD is specifically Doctor of Medicine and DO is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.\n\nWhat Makes DOs Different?\n\n* DOs can perform surgery, child delivery, treat patients, and prescribe medications in hospitals and clinic settings.\n\n* DOs look at the "total person." Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they look at the whole body.\n\n* DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones. This training gives DOs a better understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another part of the body; therefore, DOs have a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.\n\n* DOs use what is called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a technique in which the DOs use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, giving special attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Manipulations improve circulation, which in turn, creates a normal nerve and blood supply, enabling the body to heal itself.
289806
the US medical licensing exam (USMLE) is the test you take to get your medical license-- there are 3 parts.  You take Step 1 at the end of your 3rd yr of med school.  Part 2 (which is 2 parts in itself) is taken during your 4th year.  Part 3 is taken during the first year of your residency.\n\n\nthe MCAT exam is given as a standardized test for entrance into medical school.
60615
Absolutely nothing.  It just depends on the state in which the dentist went to dental school.  Some states give the title D.D.S. which is Doctor of Dental Science.  Some states give the title of D.M.D. which is Doctor of Dental Medicine.