The medical abbreviation "DO" typically stands for "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine". Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) are licensed physicians who, in addition to traditional medical training, receive extra training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which is a hands-on technique used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. DOs emphasize a whole-person approach to care and focus on treating the body as an integrated system rather than just treating individual symptoms.
DOs may specialize in a variety of medical fields, including family medicine, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, and psychiatry. They are trained to prescribe medication, perform surgery, and provide primary care to patients.
In the United States, DOs are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states and are recognized by the federal government as fully licensed physicians. They are also eligible to take the same licensing exams and participate in the same residency programs as doctors of medicine (MDs).