Osteopathic Physician (D.O.)

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Job Description

Osteopathic physicians, or D.O.s, are one of the two types of licensed physician found in the United States today.

Like their MD counterparts, D.O.S are fully qualified and trained to prescribe medication, perform surgery, diagnose injury and illness, and treat patients.

It may come as a surprise to learn that about one fifth of all medical students are studying to become osteopathic physicians.

Responsibilities

The major difference between D.O.s and MDs is that the former take a more holistic approach to medical care and also make use of osteopathic manipulative medicine.

This latter involves active manual manipulation of the musculoskeletal system.

There are two things that set osteopathic physicians apart: they believe that the body has a great capacity for healing itself of illness or injury, and that an injury or imbalance in one part of the body can cause detrimental effects not only on the part impacted directly, but also on other areas of the body.

D.O.s use manipulation of the muscles and joints to help restore the normal balance of the body and help the body regain its health in a more natural fashion.

Like allopathic doctors, D.O.s can be found in family practice, pediatrics, gynecology, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology.

Many D.O.s practice in rural areas where the population may have difficulty finding medical care. There are nearly 70,000 osteopathic physicians in the United States, and more colleges are being added to the 29 already in existence for their training.

Skills

Critical Thinking	Must use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understand Complex Medical Data	Must be able to interpret complex medical data and draw conclusions.
Complex Problem Solving	Must be able to identify complex problems and develop and evaluate corrective options and implement solutions.
Detail-Oriented	Must be able to pinpoint small details that could make or break patient diagnosis and evaluation.
Communication	Must effectively communicate with your co-workers to ensure the best care and the proper procedures. Must be able to communicate in high-stress environments.
Mathematics & Science	Must know about the human body and interactions it has with it's environment. Must know how to solve complex mathematical equations.
Systems Analysis & Evaluation	Determining how a system should work in order to fix it if problems arise.

Working Conditions

As with all physicians, osteopathic physicians can work on their own or be part of a team or clinic. D.O.s can be found not only in rural areas, but also in urban ones where family health clinics are often in short supply. In most cases, the D.O. will be a family doctor, or primary care physician.

Salary Outlook

$188,500 25^th Percentile

$312,310 50^th Percentile

$576,350 75^th Percentile

$90.63 Hourly

$150.15 Hourly

$277.09 Hourly

Estimated Annual Salary	Average Hourly Wage	Positions Nationwide
$312,310.00	$150.15	311,320

Resources

MCAT

COMLEX-USA

Board Certification

Title	Company	Location	Posted
MDFMR - Faculty Physician (DO Preferred)19755	MaineGeneral Health	Augusta, ME	12.06.2019
Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency has a faculty opening for an allopathic or osteopathic board-certified or board-eligible family medicine physician with strong clinical skills and a passion for teaching. This position is based in our...
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TEST REQ - DO NOT APPLY	University Hospitals	Shaker Heights, OH	11.21.2019
Description TEST ONLY Qualifications TEST ONLY
ONMM Faculty Physician - Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency	MaineGeneral Health	Augusta, ME	12.06.2019
At the Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency you will find a close-knit community of allopathic and osteopathic physicians who love to teach. We are seeking an NMM-certified osteopathic physician, also boarded in family medicine or internal...
Physician - Wound Care	Mercy Medical Center North Iowa	Mason City, IA	02.27.2019
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, is a 342-bed regional referral teaching hospital, named Top 100 Hospital nationally for achieving excellence in clinical outcomes, growth and fiscal management for several years. We are a faith-based,...
Physician- OBGYN	Mercy Medical Center North Iowa	Mason City, IA	05.11.2018
A physician in the Mercy North Iowa Network provides quality patient care in both the inpatient and/or outpatient settings as required. Education 1. Graduate of a medical/osteopathic medical school is required. 2. Demonstrated competency...
Physician - Family Medicine Faculty - Center for Family Medicine	Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System	Spartanburg, SC	09.12.2019
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Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician	MaineGeneral Health	Augusta, ME	12.06.2019
Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician Thayer Internal Medicine, a primary care practice of MaineGeneral Medical Center, is seeking an Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Physician to join their team. This practice provides care...
Locum - Family Medicine Physician	Kodiak Area Native Association	Kodiak, AK	12.06.2019
Provide patient and family focused medical care in accordance with KANA's mission, vision, core values, key strategies, policies, and procedures. Family Medicine Physician Locum / On-Call Located in Kodiak, Alaska POSITION SUMMARY To...
Medical/Physician Informaticist	ProHealth Care	Waukesha, WI	04.19.2019
ProHealth Care has been the health care leader in Waukesha County and surrounding areas for the past century, providing outstanding care across a full spectrum of services. The people of ProHealth Care strive to continuously improve the health...
Vascular Medicine Physician	Mercy Medical Center North Iowa	Mason City, IA	03.18.2019
Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 POSITION QUALIFICATION A. Education 1. Graduate of a medical/osteopathic medical school is required. 2. Fellowship trained in Vascular Medicine 3. Board certified/board eligible in Vascular Medicine 4. Must be...

MDFMR - Faculty Physician (DO Preferred)19755 Augusta, ME MaineGeneral Health
Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency has a faculty opening for an allopathic or osteopathic board-certified or board-eligible family medicine physician with strong clinical skills and a passion for teaching. This position is based in our...
Physician - Family Medicine Residency Faculty Indianapolis, IN Community Health Network
This physician will join Community Physician Network, a multi-specialty group with over 1,000 providers in Indianapolis, IN. With an appealing blend of big-city amenities, cosmopolitan style, and communities which boast top notch school systems,...
Physician- Rheumatologist Mason City, IA Mercy Medical Center North Iowa
JOB SUMMARY: A physician in the Mercy North Iowa Network provides quality patient care in both the inpatient and/or outpatient settings as required. QUALIFICATIONS: Graduate of a medical/osteopathic medical school is required. Demonstrated...
Addiction Physician-Psych RKLD Portland, ME MaineHealth
The Physician provides medical leadership to the multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of patients in the Maine Behavioral Healthcare continuum of care. He/She directs the treatment team planning process pharmacologic and therapeutic...
Addiction Physician-Psych SPRG Portland, ME MaineHealth
The Physician provides medical leadership to the multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of patients in the Maine Behavioral Healthcare continuum of care. He/She directs the treatment team planning process pharmacologic and therapeutic...
Physician - Intensivist (Critical Care and Pulmonology) Norman, OK Norman Regional Health System
Physician - Intensivist (Critical Care and Pulmonology) Job Locations US-OK-Norman ID 2019-5566 Category Physicians Position Type Physician Department Clinics - Intensivist Overview Norman Regional Health System is a team of...
TEST REQ - DO NOT APPLY Shaker Heights, OH University Hospitals
Description TEST ONLY Qualifications TEST ONLY
ONMM Faculty Physician - Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency Augusta, ME MaineGeneral Health
At the Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency you will find a close-knit community of allopathic and osteopathic physicians who love to teach. We are seeking an NMM-certified osteopathic physician, also boarded in family medicine or internal...
Physician - Wound Care Mason City, IA Mercy Medical Center North Iowa
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center, is a 342-bed regional referral teaching hospital, named Top 100 Hospital nationally for achieving excellence in clinical outcomes, growth and fiscal management for several years. We are a faith-based,...
Physician- OBGYN Mason City, IA Mercy Medical Center North Iowa
A physician in the Mercy North Iowa Network provides quality patient care in both the inpatient and/or outpatient settings as required. Education 1. Graduate of a medical/osteopathic medical school is required. 2. Demonstrated competency...
Physician - Family Medicine Faculty - Center for Family Medicine Spartanburg, SC Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
700 N. Pine St, Spartanburg, SC, 29302 MGC-Center for Family Medicine-Chesnee-Provider Medical Group of the Carolinas - Physician Opportunities Full-Time Days The Spartanburg Family Medicine Residency Program in Spartanburg, South Carolina...
Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician Augusta, ME MaineGeneral Health
Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Physician Thayer Internal Medicine, a primary care practice of MaineGeneral Medical Center, is seeking an Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Physician to join their team. This practice provides care...
Locum - Family Medicine Physician Kodiak, AK Kodiak Area Native Association
Provide patient and family focused medical care in accordance with KANA's mission, vision, core values, key strategies, policies, and procedures. Family Medicine Physician Locum / On-Call Located in Kodiak, Alaska POSITION SUMMARY To...
Medical/Physician Informaticist Waukesha, WI ProHealth Care
ProHealth Care has been the health care leader in Waukesha County and surrounding areas for the past century, providing outstanding care across a full spectrum of services. The people of ProHealth Care strive to continuously improve the health...
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