Or they may choose to become a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine), by attending an osteopathic medical school. It’s still more common for potential doctors to choose the MD route but the number ...

However, many people don’t know what the difference is. The two types of doctors have a lot in common, for example, they both attend a four-year medical school and complete a residency.

Whether you select an MD or a DO to guide your care is largely one of personal preference. In the end, it’s the doctor, not the title, that matters.

About 9 out of 10 of practicing physicians hold MD degrees compared with only 1 in 10 with DO degrees, according to a paper published in July 2021 in the Journal of Medical Regulation.

Once graduated, an MD and a DO have the same medical privileges and licensure. They can both see patients, write prescriptions, perform surgeries, order tests, and work in hospitals.