Have you seen ads for weight-loss or peripheral nerve pain clinics in which “Dr. Smith” is identified as the physician in charge? If you look carefully, you may see that “Dr. Smith” is not an M.D. but is a D.C., or a Doctor of Chiropractic. The title of “Doctor” can be used by many healthcare providers, and this can be confusing to the public.
Besides an M.D. (Medical Doctor) and D.C., providers can be “D.O” (Doctor of Osteopathy), an “O.D.” (Doctor of Optometry), a “Psy.D” (Doctor of Psychology), or a “D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine). Of course, many psychologists have a Ph.D. in psychology (Doctor of Psychology, which is a general academic award).
Many D.O. physicians have similar training to that of an M.D., although they attend “schools of osteopathy” rather than medical schools. They may also obtain specialized training in particular medical fields, such as by attending residency or fellowship training programs at medical schools.
They have their own board-certification programs, so a D.O. may be board-certified in such specialization as orthopedic surgery, urology, obstetrics, etc. If you look a website for a medical clinic or for a hospital, you may see both D.O. and M.D. titles for the physicians practicing there. Many D.O. physicians practice as emergency room doctors or hospitalists (hospital-based medicine).
An M.D. degree is an assurance that the physician graduated from a School of Medicine and passed the state tests for being a physician, but it doesn’t guarantee that the care you receive will be the best. Similarly, a D.O. after the doctor’s name doesn’t mean the care is of lesser quality.
One caveat: many people assume that a podiatric doctor is better for foot and ankle problems because they “specialize” in that part of the body, or that an optometric doctor is the best choice for eye care. However, a medical doctor who specializes in ophthalmology (medicine of the eye), or who specializes in orthopedics of the foot/ankle, may be better able to diagnose and treat a problem in those parts of the body.
When choosing the right doctor for you or your family, the best course is to look at the doctor’s credentials and training and talk to other patients who have been treated by that person.
