DO usually stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. A DO is a fully licensed physician, and the main difference from an MD is that DO training often emphasizes whole-person care and prevention, while still using the same core medical treatments.

Quick Scoop

  • DO = Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • DOs can diagnose illness, prescribe medicine, order tests, and perform surgery with proper training, just like MDs.
  • Some DOs also learn osteopathic manipulative treatment , a hands-on technique used in certain cases.

If you want, I can also explain the difference between DO and MD in one simple table.