According to the American Osteopathic Association:
“Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, are fully licensed physicians who practice in all areas of medicine. Emphasizing a whole-person approach to treatment and care, DOs are trained to listen and partner with their patients to help them get healthy and stay well.
“DOs receive special training in the musculoskeletal system, your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones. By combining this knowledge with the latest advances in medical technology, they offer patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
“Osteopathic physicians focus on prevention, tuning into how a patient's lifestyle and environment can impact their well-being. DOs strive to help you be truly healthy in mind, body, and spirit—not just free of symptoms.”
In short, DOs and MDs receive the exact same training, but DOs also learn osteopathic manipulative treatment, a hands-on approach that helps DOs “diagnose illness and injury and encourage your body’s natural tendency toward self-healing.” One in four medical students in the United States now attends an osteopathic medical school.
Median Indiana salary: $177,540 for primary care physicians
Projected job growth: 40% for primary care physicians by 2020
Time to degree: Four years
Clinical requirements: Three to eight years of internships, residencies, and fellowships
Certification requirements: NA
Minimum GPA: 3.0 (3.1–3.5 considered competitive)
MCAT required: Yes (scores of 24 or 498 considered competitive)
Tuition: Ranges between $120,000 and $250,000, plus fees and living expenses
Application deadline: Rolling admission opens in early April
Classes
What to Do
Questions to Ask
Year 1
Fall 1
BIOL-K 101, CHEM-C 105/125, PSY-B 110, MATH-I 153
Volunteer work/student activities
Do I want to study abroad? What kind of research experience do I want?
