A doctor who has graduated from an osteopathic medical school and received a
doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (DO), while a doctor of medicine (MD) has
graduated from a conventional medical school. Individuals with a DO degree have
the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as physicians with an MD
degree. Both MDs and DOs must complete residency training in their chosen
specialties, and both must pass the same licensing examinations. Osteopathy
shares many of the same goals as traditional medicine but places greater
emphasis on the relationship between the organs and the musculoskeletal system
as well as on treating the whole individual rather than just the disease.