A D.O. is an osteopathic physician. Osteopathic physicians are very similar to allopathic physicians (an M. D.) in many ways. Both physicians earn an undergraduate, four year degree from a college or university. The degrees they earn usually have a focus on science. Following this education, both D.O.s and M.D.s attend medical school for four years and receive a medical degree from an accredited university. Following this education, both osteopathic and allopathic physicians complete post doctoral training in the form of internships and residencies. (This can be from 2-6 years of training.) All physicians must take and pass state licensing exams and then practice in fully accredited and licensed facilities.

The differences between an M.D. and a D.O. are the additional benefits a D.O. is able to provide to their patients. The American Osteopathic Association is quoted as saying, "Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians." The approach an osteopathic physician takes to a patient is to treat the "whole person" instead of their symptoms or illnesses. These physicians take into their assessment the home and work environments of their patients as well as their physiological health. The focus of a D.O. is that of preventative care.

Osteopathic physicians are trained to provide osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). When providing OMT, a D.O. uses his or her hands to assist in their diagnosing an illness or injury. When combined with all other current medical procedures available, D.O.'s are able to offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today." (American Osteopathic Association) Osteopathic physicians are on the cutting edge of modern medicine while they combine medical technology with their ears, to listen to patients, their eyes, to see the patient as a whole person and their hands to diagnose and treat injury and illness.