Is it Doctor of Osteopathy or

[JohnDO]

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I'm a bit confused as to whether D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy.

Here it says, "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)"

I always thought it was "Doctor of Osteopathy". I'm pretty sure I've seen "Doctor of Osteopathy" written on a D.O.'s diploma (hanging in her office).

 

[OSUdoc08]

I'm a bit confused as to whether D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy.

Here it says, "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)"

I always thought it was "Doctor of Osteopathy". I'm pretty sure I've seen "Doctor of Osteopathy" written on a D.O.'s diploma (hanging in her office).

Doctor of Osteopathy is what the degree initially was. That is an old and outdated name now.

The current degree is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This is to better allay the combination of modern medicine with osteopathy (OMM.)

In England, they do give the Doctor of Osteopathy degree. These Doctors are not trained in modern medicine, and only practice OMM. They are not licensed to prescribe medicines and perform surgery like American Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

[babyruth]

I don't think that it really matters, but the "--medicine" part is probably supplemental in order to describe what osteopathy is. Perhaps it is to further describe that we are fully licensed physicians and not like our counterparts in Britain that only practice OMT or other professions (like PAs, PTs, etc.) who get OM courses but are not licensed physicians....?

 

[OSUdoc08]

I don't think that it really matters, but the "--medicine" part is probably supplemental in order to describe what osteopathy is. Perhaps it is to further describe that we are fully licensed physicians and not like our counterparts in Britain that only practice OMT or other professions (like PAs, PTs, etc.) who get OM courses but are not licensed physicians....?

Yeah, it does matter. Doctor of Osteopathy is no longer used for U.S. trained D.O.'s.

 

[docbill]

This was part of the Osteopathic prof.

They changed it to better reflect the prof and to get in more recognized.

Osteopathic schools .. became Osteopathic Medical schools.
Osteopath ... became Osteopathic Physicians.

Yet I am not sure if they put Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine on the diploma.
I would assume so .. since it is College of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

[indebt]

I think in 1996 they reissued most diplomas to say Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine rather than Doctor of Osteopathy.

 

[group_theory]

Colleges today will issue diplomas that say "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine". Before the 1990s, it depended on the individual schools whether you got a "Doctor of Osteopathy" or a "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" degree

Schools started changing their name from Osteopathy to Osteopathic Medicine in the 60s/70s.

DMU - in 1958, went from Des Moines Still College of Osteopathy and Surgery to College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
CCOM - 1970 went from Chicago College of Osteopathy to Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
KCOM -in 1971, went from Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery to KCOM
PCOM - in 1967, went from PCO to PCOM

Also

DO in England doesn't stand for "Doctor of Osteopathy" but rather "Diploma in Osteopathy". This was the diploma given to those trained in osteopathy. Following the Osteopathy Act of 1993, schools who were training osteopaths awarded either the BSc(Hon) in Osteopathic Medicine, or the B. Ost. Med. (five year course leading to a Bachelor of Osteopathic Medicine). At present day, the DO stands for an osteopath registered with the General Osteopathic Council (as established by the Osteopathic Act of 1993)

References:
http://history.aoa-net.org/Education/collegehist.htm
http://www.bcom.ac.uk/Textonly/courses/default.asp
http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/
http://www.osteopathy.org/n_home.html