what does do stand for

DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. A DO is a type of professional degree someone earns when they complete a medical school curriculum at one of the osteopathic medical schools. DOs are physicians fully licensed to practice medicine and take a holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on the interrelationship between body systems, social, and environmental factors. They believe in the bodys ability to heal itself and use a whole-person, patient-centered approach to healthcare. DOs are similar to medical doctors (MDs) in that they are licensed to practice medicine, but they bring a different philosophy and approach to patient care. They often focus on treating the complete body, with or without the use of conventional drugs, and their training typically includes more sessions of hands-on therapy than their MD counterparts. DOs account for approximately 11% of physicians in the US, while MDs represent the majority at 89% .