History of Osteopathy
Osteopathic Medicine was developed in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D.  Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of the 19th Century medicine.  He realized that many of the medications of his day were useless or even harmful.  Dr. Still was a pioneer in the study of good health so that he could better understand the disease process.

The outcome of these studies led Dr. Still to found a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the Father of Medicines.  The philosophy focuses on the unity and interaction of all body parts.  He identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health.  He recognized the body’s ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicines, eating properly and keeping fit.

Although Dr. Still expounded some ideas and philosophy that sound rather bizarre in light of what we now know, he delineated the concept of “wellness” over 100 years ago.  His teachings also have to be evaluated in light of what was “conventional” medical care in the last two decades of the 19th century.  The 1892 edition of The Principles and Practice of Medicine by William Osler, M.D. has advice and teachings that are every bit as outlandish.  As time went by surgical techniques were perfected and pharmaceuticals improved, and D.O.s reincorporated the use of more surgery and medication in the treatment of illness.

D.O.s and M.D.s are alike in many ways:

• Applicants to both D.O and M.D. colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses.
• Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
• After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine-such as psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics- after completing residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).
• Both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable (often identical) state licensing examinations.
• D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed hospitals and medical centers.

D.O.s approach to medicine:

• Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians
• D.O.s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illness, they regard your body as an integrated whole.
• Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive healthcare.
• D.O.s receive extra training in the musculosketal system – your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones.  This training reinforces a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect another. It tends to give D.O.s a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage over those who do not receive specialized training.
• Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) is incorporated in the training and practice of osteopathic physicians.  By combining all other medical procedures with OMT, D.O.s can offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.

There are many good practitioners in both camps and, in general, it is more important to find a physician who will talk to you, listen to you, and who you can trust.  Even though it is emphasized in Osteopathic school, empathy and communication are things that cannot be easily taught.  It takes a person who truly wants to help people solve their problems and live healthier lives.  Today, to be perfectly honest, M.D.s and D.O.s can practice medicine in very similar styles, differing only in the D.O.s use of some musculoskeletal manipulation techniques and, perhaps a subtle philosophy of caring.  The AMA has a list of all physicians in the US, including both M.D.s and D.O.s where you might find a doctor in your particular location.