Is Osteopathic Medicine on the Rise?

Doctors of osteopathic medicine have been around since the late-1800s but are gaining increasing attention due to their recent dramatic growth. Doctors of osteopathic medicine currently make up about 8.5 percent (N = 81,115) of licensed physicians, but that percentage will increase in the coming years.

What is the demand for osteopathic physicians?

Strong Job Prospects. Overall employment of physicians and surgeons is projected to grow 13\% through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, reports the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Why is osteopathic medicine better?

Osteopathic medicine provides all of the benefits of modern medicine including prescription drugs, surgery, and the use of technology to diagnose disease and evaluate injury. It also offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment through a system of treatment known as osteopathic manipulative medicine.

How many DOs are there in America?

102,137 DOs
For the first time, the number of DOs in the U.S. has surpassed 100,000, according to the 2016 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report. Precisely, there are now 102,137 DOs.

How many MDs are in the US?

New section

Specialty	Total Active Physicians	Active U.S. MDs
All Specialties	938,966	620,520
Allergy and Immunology	4,900	3,567
Anatomic/Clinical Pathology	12,643	8,319
Anesthesiology	42,267	30,328

Do osteopathic doctors do manipulations?

Osteopathic doctors believe touch can be healing. All DOs are trained in osteopathic manipulative treatment, sometimes called manual manipulation or OMT. That’s a hands-on method to help diagnose and treat illnesses.