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

Title	Company	Location	Posted
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Title: Colorectal Surgery Physician. Schedule: Full-time, daytime shifts. Location: Historic Arlington, Virginia, 15 minutes from downtown Washington DC. Compensation: Competitive base salary plus generous bonus incentives....
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AnMed Health Cannon is seeking a BC/BE Emergency Medicine physician or Family Medicine Physician for Emergency Department Staffed by four emergency medicine and family medicine boarded physicians Competitive compensation...
OB/GYN Physician Practice (Outpatient)	Virginia Hospital Center	Arlington, VA	07.26.2017
Title: OB/GYN Physician Practice (Outpatient). Schedule: Full-time, Monday Friday, light call schedule. Location: Alexandria, VA. Compensation: Competitive base salary plus various bonus incentives. Requirements: Board eligibility...
Physician	AnMed Health	Anderson, SC	08.27.2015
Excellent Family Medicine Opportunity in Honea Path Opportunity Details: BE/BC Family Medicine physician needed for AnMed Health Honea Path Family Medicine Competitive compensation and benefits Paperless practice...
Physician	Signature Healthcare	Brockton, MA	06.15.2017
Join a winning team. At Signature Healthcare, our physicians are the main reason we're recognized as exceptional providers of quality healthcare. We've created an environment where our entire team of caregivers can do what they do best: put...
Physician	AnMed Health	Anderson, SC	02.10.2017
Heart Failure Specialist opportunity in beautiful upstate South Carolina: A great place to live, work and play! Position details: AnMed Health Cardiovascular Services seeks to add a heart failure specialist to its robust Heart and...
Physician	INTEGRIS Health	Oklahoma City, OK	07.26.2017
The Physician provides direct patient care. Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals as appropriate based on the level of patient contact this position requires. INTEGRIS Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Essential...
Physician	AnMed Health	Anderson, SC	08.01.2015
Emergency Medicine opportunities available in Anderson, South Carolina for full and part time Emergency Physicians. Anderson Emergency Associates is looking for BC/BE emergency physicians to join a group of 19 EM certified physicians staffing...
Physician	AnMed Health	Anderson, SC	08.27.2015
Come live, play and work in beautiful Upstate South Carolina! Cannon Family Practice Network is seeking BC/BE Family Medicine physicians for: Cannon Family Practice-Pickens and Cannon Family Practice-Eastside Providers typically...
Physician Assistant	Mercy Hospital	Oklahoma City, OK	07.26.2017
Were a Little Different Our mission is clear. We bring to life a healing ministry through our compassionate care and exceptional service. We dont believe in jobs at Mercy, we believe in careers that match the unique gifts of unique...
Physician - Gastroenterologist	VA Central Iowa Health Care System	Des Moines, IA	07.26.2017
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1957170 OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are...
Physician- Internal Medicine Physician Lead	Mercy Medical Center Des Moines	Des Moines, IA	07.26.2017
Physician- Internal Medicine Physician Lead Schedule-Full-time Job-Physicians Daily Schedule-8-5 Scheduled Hours per 2-week Pay Period-80 Weekends Required-Occasional Primary Location-IOWA-DES MOINES-MERCY MEDICAL CENTER Mercy...
Physician - Pulmonologist	VA Central Iowa Health Care System	Des Moines, IA	07.26.2017
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1940790 OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are...

Colorectal Surgery Physician Arlington, VA Virginia Hospital Center
Title: Colorectal Surgery Physician. Schedule: Full-time, daytime shifts. Location: Historic Arlington, Virginia, 15 minutes from downtown Washington DC. Compensation: Competitive base salary plus generous bonus incentives....
Physician Norman, Ok Norman Regional Health System
Physician Portal for HR Processing of Employed Physicians/Residents
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician Arlington, VA Virginia Hospital Center
Title: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician Schedule: PRN Location: Historic Arlington, Virginia, 15 minutes from downtown Washington DC. Compensation: Competitive hourly rate. Requirements: Board eligibility or certification...
Physician Anderson, SC AnMed Health
AnMed Health Cannon is seeking a BC/BE Emergency Medicine physician or Family Medicine Physician for Emergency Department Staffed by four emergency medicine and family medicine boarded physicians Competitive compensation...
OB/GYN Physician Practice (Outpatient) Arlington, VA Virginia Hospital Center
Title: OB/GYN Physician Practice (Outpatient). Schedule: Full-time, Monday Friday, light call schedule. Location: Alexandria, VA. Compensation: Competitive base salary plus various bonus incentives. Requirements: Board eligibility...
Physician Anderson, SC AnMed Health
Excellent Family Medicine Opportunity in Honea Path Opportunity Details: BE/BC Family Medicine physician needed for AnMed Health Honea Path Family Medicine Competitive compensation and benefits Paperless practice...
Physician Brockton, MA Signature Healthcare
Join a winning team. At Signature Healthcare, our physicians are the main reason we're recognized as exceptional providers of quality healthcare. We've created an environment where our entire team of caregivers can do what they do best: put...
Physician Anderson, SC AnMed Health
Heart Failure Specialist opportunity in beautiful upstate South Carolina: A great place to live, work and play! Position details: AnMed Health Cardiovascular Services seeks to add a heart failure specialist to its robust Heart and...
Physician Oklahoma City, OK INTEGRIS Health
The Physician provides direct patient care. Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals as appropriate based on the level of patient contact this position requires. INTEGRIS Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Essential...
Physician Anderson, SC AnMed Health
Emergency Medicine opportunities available in Anderson, South Carolina for full and part time Emergency Physicians. Anderson Emergency Associates is looking for BC/BE emergency physicians to join a group of 19 EM certified physicians staffing...
Physician Anderson, SC AnMed Health
Come live, play and work in beautiful Upstate South Carolina! Cannon Family Practice Network is seeking BC/BE Family Medicine physicians for: Cannon Family Practice-Pickens and Cannon Family Practice-Eastside Providers typically...
Physician Assistant Oklahoma City, OK Mercy Hospital
Were a Little Different Our mission is clear. We bring to life a healing ministry through our compassionate care and exceptional service. We dont believe in jobs at Mercy, we believe in careers that match the unique gifts of unique...
Physician - Gastroenterologist Des Moines, IA VA Central Iowa Health Care System
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1957170 OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are...
Physician- Internal Medicine Physician Lead Des Moines, IA Mercy Medical Center Des Moines
Physician- Internal Medicine Physician Lead Schedule-Full-time Job-Physicians Daily Schedule-8-5 Scheduled Hours per 2-week Pay Period-80 Weekends Required-Occasional Primary Location-IOWA-DES MOINES-MERCY MEDICAL CENTER Mercy...
Physician - Pulmonologist Des Moines, IA VA Central Iowa Health Care System
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 1940790 OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are...