what are some differences between osteopathic school and a general medical school?

Both MD’s and DO’s have training in the basic and clinical sciences and have to pass similar qualifying exams in order to practice. The main difference between them is the emphasis placed on the musculoskeletal system by DO’s. A DO’s education incorporates manipulation therapies used by chiropractors. There is also a holistic emphasis within DO training that isn’t incorporated in allopathic medicine, which is what leads most ‘mainstream’ medicine to be somewhat snotty about DO’s.

Personally, I think DO’s are happier with their practices because they’re more people oriented. But again, that’s just a personal opinion.

You know, I’ve had this explained to me a couple of times and I still don’t completely get it. But I think the DO tends to be big into preventive medicine, and the MD is more geared around treating the problem. If you are going to see them for an illness, the DO is going to spend more time figuring out why it happened, treating you, and trying to keep it from happening again. That’s the theory. But I go to a DO, and to be honest, he doesn’t seem to do anything different than the MD I used to see.