Addressing a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO): Proper Titles & Etiquette

The proper way to address a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) is "Dr. [last name]." This is the same way you would address a medical doctor (MD).

DOs are fully licensed physicians who have completed medical school and a residency program. They are trained in the same way as MDs, and they can practice medicine in all 50 states.

The only difference between DOs and MDs is that DOs receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). OMM is a hands-on technique that uses gentle pressure to manipulate the body's muscles, bones, and joints. DOs believe that OMM can help to improve circulation, relieve pain, and promote healing.

If you are seeing a DO for the first time, you may want to ask them about their training and experience in OMM. You can also ask them how they use OMM in their practice.