Picture this: you’re scrolling through your morning news feed and see not one, but two New York Times articles about Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs). You pause. Part surprise, part curiosity. For many DOs, seeing our profession in a major national spotlight can be both exciting and a little nerve-wracking.
In this episode, Andy, John, Tanner, and long-time guest of the show, Chris Colbert, dive into the NYT’s “What Is a DO?” and “The Osteopath Is In. Now What?”—breaking down what the articles got right, where they missed the mark, and how they reflect the roles and training of DOs in modern emergency medicine.
Why This Matters
There is still public uncertainty about what a DO actually is. For some people, it’s a completely new term; for others, it’s vaguely familiar but not well understood. At the end of the day, the most important fact is simple: DO or MD, we are fully licensed physicians with training standards and a very similar scope of practice.
Coverage like these New York Times articles helps bridge that knowledge gap. The more our profession appears in mainstream media, the more people understand who we are and what we do. All press is good press when it comes to increasing visibility, and every conversation sparked by these headlines is an opportunity to educate and connect.
Keys to Understanding the DO Perspective
We’re Fully Licensed Physicians
DOs complete medical school, residency, and fellowship just like MDs. Since the unified residency match in 2020, we have applied to the same programs and met the same training requirements. The letters after our name don’t change the scope of our license—just the philosophy we bring to patient care.
A Holistic Approach to Medicine
Osteopathic medicine emphasizes treating the whole person—considering not just the immediate medical problem, but the broader context, including social and environmental factors. In recent years, MD programs have also moved toward integrating this broader, patient-centered approach into their curricula. The difference isn’t in whether we value the whole person—it’s in how our training weaves that perspective into the foundation of our practice from day one.
Patients Still Ask, “What’s a DO?”
The most common question we get when someone notices our badge is a simple one. Our go-to answer: “I’m a fully licensed physician, just like an MD, with some additional training that focuses on the connections between the body’s systems and the patient as a whole.” In the ED, that conversation often takes 20 seconds—but it leaves an impression.
Take-Home Points
- DOs are fully licensed physicians who share the same training standards and scope of practice as MDs.
- Both DO and MD training emphasize a holistic, patient-centered approach to care.
- Public awareness of DOs is growing, and media coverage like the NYT’s articles is an opportunity to educate and correct misconceptions.
Post by Jordan Palmer, DO PGY-2
References:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/briefing/what-is-a-do.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/well/osteopath-doctor-health.html
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