Overview

Osteopathic medicine: Overview

Osteopathic medicine focuses on a whole-person approach to treatment and care. Osteopathic physicians (also called doctors of osteopathic medicine, or DOs) are doctors who practice the full scope of modern medicine like medical doctors (MDs). They have special training in the connection between the body's nerves, muscles, and bone.

DOs can prescribe medicine, order medical tests, and perform surgery. They serve as primary care providers, provide care in hospital settings, and may become certified in a specialty, such as anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, or general surgery.

Currently, there are no universities of osteopathic medicine in Canada. DOs that practice in Canada have trained in other countries, such as the United States.

Osteopathic physicians complete osteopathic medical school, followed by an internship and residency program. Accreditation of universities of osteopathic medicine is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Post-Secondary Education. All U.S. accredited DO programs are recognized in Canada.

Like MDs, DOs must pass a medical board exam to obtain a licence in order to enter practice. Each provincial board sets its own requirements and then issues the license for the osteopathic physician to practice in that province.