DO vs. MD — What Is the Difference Between a DO and an MD?

What Is the Core Difference Between a DO and an MD?

Dr. Jedidiah Oldham, DO explains that both DOs and MDs complete identical core requirements: four years of medical school, three to seven years of residency, and national board examinations. According to the American Osteopathic Association, the distinguishing factor is that DO students receive an additional 200-plus hours of training in the musculoskeletal system and osteopathic manipulative treatment, equipping them with a whole-body diagnostic framework that MD programs do not include. This additional training teaches DOs to use their hands to diagnose illness and treat patients through OMT techniques that address the structural and functional connections between the musculoskeletal system and overall health.

Osteopathic vs. Allopathic Philosophy

Osteopathic medicine follows four core tenets established by Andrew Taylor Still in 1874: the body functions as a unit, the body possesses self-healing mechanisms, structure and function are interrelated, and rational treatment combines all three principles. Dr. Oldham applies these principles daily at his Spanish Fork practice, looking beyond isolated symptoms to identify root causes. The allopathic (MD) tradition focuses primarily on the biomedical model, treating specific diseases with medications and procedures. Both approaches are evidence-based and effective, but the osteopathic framework gives DOs like Dr. Oldham an additional diagnostic lens.

How Training Paths Diverge After Medical School

After completing osteopathic medical school at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri, Dr. Oldham pursued four years of general surgery residency at Beaumont-Trenton Southshore Hospital in Michigan before completing a family medicine residency at Riverstone Health in Billings, Montana. This combined eight years of post-graduate training is unusual among family physicians and gives Dr. Oldham surgical skills, advanced diagnostic experience, and the hands-on OMT expertise that distinguish his practice in Spanish Fork. Both DO and MD graduates can enter any medical specialty and practice in any hospital or clinic nationwide.

Do DOs and MDs Have the Same Medical Training?

DOs and MDs share 95 percent of their medical education. Both complete four years of undergraduate study, four years of medical school covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, and clinical rotations, followed by three to seven years of residency training. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, both pathways require passing rigorous licensing examinations: COMLEX for DOs and USMLE for MDs, though many DO students take both. Since 2020, all residency programs operate under a single accreditation system through the ACGME, meaning DO and MD graduates train side by side in the same hospitals. The practical result is that a DO and an MD in the same specialty have equivalent clinical training and competence.

Dr. Jedidiah Oldham completed his medical education at A.T. Still University, the founding institution of osteopathic medicine established in 1892. He holds three board certifications through the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians: Family Practice, Family Practice/OMT, and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, all earned in 2019. This triple certification demonstrates mastery of both conventional family medicine and osteopathic-specific skills that few physicians in Utah County hold.

What Is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Why Does It Matter?

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment is a set of hands-on diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that DOs use to treat musculoskeletal pain, improve mobility, and support the body’s natural healing processes. Dr. Oldham performs OMT at his Spanish Fork office for conditions including chronic back pain, neck stiffness, headaches, joint dysfunction, and postpartum recovery. According to a 2013 systematic review in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, OMT reduced low back pain significantly compared to control groups, with effects comparable to standard medical interventions but without medication side effects.

Dr. Jedidiah Oldham describes his approach as finding the root cause so the body can heal itself. During an OMT session at 972 N 600 E in Spanish Fork, Dr. Oldham uses techniques including myofascial release, muscle energy, high-velocity low-amplitude thrust, and counterstrain to address structural restrictions. These techniques distinguish DO care from standard MD treatment and represent a meaningful clinical advantage for patients dealing with chronic musculoskeletal issues, pregnancy-related discomfort, or sports injuries. Call (385) 265-6060 to schedule an OMT evaluation.

Can a DO Prescribe Medications and Perform Surgery?

DOs hold full prescribing authority in all 50 states, identical to MDs. Dr. Jedidiah Oldham prescribes the same medications available to any physician, from antibiotics and blood pressure medications to insulin, antidepressants, and controlled substances when clinically appropriate. In Utah, DOs and MDs operate under the same licensing board and carry the same scope of practice without restrictions. A 2023 survey by the American Osteopathic Association found that approximately 25 percent of all U.S. medical students now attend osteopathic schools, reflecting the growing recognition that DO training produces equally qualified physicians with additional manual medicine skills.

His background also includes four years of general surgery residency training at Beaumont-Trenton Southshore Hospital, giving him surgical competence that most family physicians lack. At his Spanish Fork practice, Dr. Oldham performs minor surgical procedures including laceration repair, abscess drainage, skin lesion removal, ingrown toenail procedures, and joint injections. For patients needing major surgery, Dr. Oldham coordinates referrals to specialists at Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Intermountain Spanish Fork Hospital, and Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo.

Why Did Dr. Oldham Choose Osteopathic Medicine?

Dr. Jedidiah Oldham chose osteopathic medicine because its philosophy aligns with his belief in treating the whole patient instead of isolated symptoms. Growing up in Utah County and working in automotive technology before pursuing medicine, Dr. Oldham values a practical, hands-on approach to problem-solving. The osteopathic model taught him to use his hands as diagnostic instruments and to consider how structural dysfunction in one part of the body affects overall health. After completing his DO degree at A.T. Still University, Dr. Oldham returned to Utah County to serve his home community in Spanish Fork, bringing triple board certification and eight years of post-graduate training to a region where no other physician prominently offers OMT alongside full-scope family medicine.

Which Is Right for You: DO or MD?

For most patients in Spanish Fork and Utah County, the choice between a DO and an MD should focus on the individual physician’s qualifications, experience, and care philosophy instead of the degree letters alone. According to the American Medical Association, patients receive equivalent quality of care from both DOs and MDs, and most patients cannot distinguish between the two in clinical practice. However, patients who value a whole-body approach, prefer hands-on treatment options like OMT, or want a physician trained in root-cause diagnosis may benefit from choosing a DO.

How Does Dr. Oldham Use His DO Training in Daily Patient Care?

Dr. Jedidiah Oldham integrates his osteopathic training into every patient encounter at 972 N 600 E in Spanish Fork. For a patient presenting with chronic headaches, Dr. Oldham examines cervical spine alignment and muscular tension patterns before considering medication, often finding that OMT combined with lifestyle modifications resolves symptoms that pills alone cannot. For prenatal patients, Dr. Oldham uses gentle OMT techniques to address lower back pain, round ligament discomfort, and pelvic alignment issues that commonly arise during pregnancy. His four years of surgical residency training also means Dr. Oldham can perform in-office procedures that most family doctors would refer out, saving patients time and referral costs.

The practice accepts patients of all ages, from newborns through seniors, and treats over 200 conditions at the Spanish Fork office. His practice includes annual physicals, chronic disease management for diabetes, hypertension, and thyroid disorders, mental health treatment for anxiety and depression, prenatal and postpartum care, pediatric well-child visits, sports physicals, DOT examinations, and same-day sick visits. This full-scope approach reflects the osteopathic principle of treating the whole patient across the entire lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions About DOs vs. MDs