The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. Once admitted to medical school, it takes four years to earn a M.D. degree. The course of study is divided into two roughly equal parts. Preclinical study generally comprises the first two years and consists of classroom and laboratory instruction in core subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, and neurosciences. Once the student successfully completes preclinical training, he or she moves on to the clinical portion. This usually occupies the final two years of medical school and takes place almost exclusively on the wards of a teaching hospital. The students observe and take part in the care of actual patients under the supervision of residents and attending physicians. Rotations on clinical services such as internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and psychiatry are the foundation of this curriculum, but many specialty electives may be chosen as well. Upon completion of medical school, the student earns the title of doctor, but cannot practice independently until completing further training. In the United States most physicians have earned a M.D., although some may instead hold a D.O. D.O. stands for doctor of osteopathy. Osteopathy today is a body of medicine that originally used strictly manipulative techniques for correcting somatic abnormalities thought to cause disease and inhibit recovery. However, over the past century, osteopathy has embraced the full spectrum of medicine (to different degrees across the world), including the use of prescription drugs and surgery, in addition to manipulative techniques. Medical students for both D.O. and M.D. follow essentially the same set of studies. However, osteopathic students receive additional training in palpatory diagnosis and manipulative (manual) medicine. The osteopathic community also has an increased emphasis on primary care. Osteopaths tend to specialize less than M.D.s; there are, for example, fewer then 20 endocrinologists with D.O. degrees in the U.S. and fewer still of those are in full-time practice.

The difference between medical "doctor" and having a "doctorate" is rooted in the practical knowledge required to attain the "doctor" status while a "doctorate" evidences satisfaction of an institution's educational requirements (i.e. credit hours, theses, etc.) leading to that level of a post graduate degree.

A medical doctor (allopathic physician) (M.D.) and a doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) generally have the same educational background and length of study. Both are required to complete an undergraduate degree - usually with an emphasis on biological or chemical science - followed by four years of medical school, and then a residency program. A residency program is done in the area of specialty chosen by the physician such as surgery, gynecology, or psychiatry. The length of this residency program varies by the physician's specialty, but typically is two to six years. All physicians must then pass state licensure requirements and examinations. In regard to primary care physicians, the basic difference between these two types of doctors is becoming more narrow all the time. The philosophical differences of the two types are becoming somewhat non-existent and, in recent years, the training each receives has begun to cross the traditional lines of "conventional" and "osteopathic" medicine. Most osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to become primary care physicians. The philosophical difference is that the D.O. is trained to evaluate the body through taking histories, focusing not only on the health problem or concern but lifestyle issues (such as the impacts of stress or posture on a condition) as well. D.O.'s may also focus on the neuro-musculoskeletal system and may perform manipulations to treat a wide array of health concerns. Following this thought process, D.O.'s receive training that focuses on developing an understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect another. For example, in case of patient experiencing migraine headaches, a D.O. might question underlying issues such as family problems, stress, etc., where an M.D. might look for physical symptoms first before pursuing the other issues. To determine what kind of physician is best for you and your family, schedule a "get acquainted" appointment. The particular qualities you might look for differ from individual to individual. We would recommend that you choose your physician based on your needs, physical and emotional, rather than based only on their "D.O." or "M.D." credentials.