What Does a Forensic Biologist Do? A Day Inside the Crime Lab
30 Jun, 2026
If you're exploring a career in medicine, you've almost certainly encountered the question: should I pursue a DO or an MD? The physician DO — a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine — has seen a remarkable surge in popularity over the past two decades, yet many aspiring healthcare professionals still don't fully understand what this path entails, how it differs from the MD track, or why it's becoming one of the most compelling healthcare opportunities available today. I've spent years helping healthcare professionals navigate their careers at healthcareers.app, and I can tell you that the DO path deserves far more attention than it typically gets in mainstream career advice.
In this post, I'm going to dig into what a physician DO actually does, how osteopathic training shapes clinical practice, the surprising range of specialties DOs pursue (including niche paths like cardiovascular perfusionist programs), and why employers across every healthcare setting are actively recruiting osteopathic physicians.
A physician DO is a fully licensed medical doctor who can prescribe medication, perform surgery, and practice in every medical specialty — just like an MD. The key distinction lies in training philosophy. Osteopathic medical schools emphasize a whole-person approach to patient care, integrating osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) into the curriculum alongside the same foundational sciences, clinical rotations, and board exams that MD students complete.
In practical terms, this means a physician DO receives additional training in the musculoskeletal system and hands-on diagnostic and treatment techniques. Many DOs report that this training gives them a distinctive edge in primary care, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and pain management — though it's important to note that DOs practice across the full spectrum of medicine, from neurosurgery to psychiatry.
The osteopathic philosophy isn't just an abstract concept taught in the first year and forgotten. It shapes how many DOs approach patient encounters throughout their careers. Rather than treating a symptom in isolation, the DO framework encourages physicians to consider the interplay between a patient's physical structure, organ function, mental health, and social environment. This aligns closely with the patient-centered care models that health systems increasingly prioritize.
I've spoken with hiring managers at community health centers, hospital systems, and specialty clinics who tell me they specifically seek out DOs for this reason. The training produces physicians who are often more comfortable with longitudinal patient relationships and preventive care — skills that are in high demand as healthcare shifts toward value-based models.
The numbers tell a striking story. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine reports that osteopathic medical school enrollment has grown significantly over the past 20 years, with new colleges of osteopathic medicine opening across the country. Several factors are driving this trend.
There are now over 40 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States, compared to roughly half that number two decades ago. Many of these newer schools are located in underserved or rural areas, intentionally designed to train physicians who will practice where they're needed most. For students who want to practice in smaller communities or who come from non-traditional academic backgrounds, DO programs often provide a more accessible entry point into medicine without sacrificing clinical rigor.
One of the most significant developments in recent years was the merger of the MD and DO residency accreditation systems. Since 2020, all residency programs fall under a single accreditation system managed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This means DO graduates compete for and match into the same residency programs as MD graduates. The old stigma that DOs were somehow "less than" MDs has eroded considerably as a result, and match data shows DOs entering competitive specialties at increasing rates.
Many osteopathic medical schools place greater emphasis on holistic admissions — looking beyond MCAT scores and GPA to evaluate leadership, community service, life experience, and commitment to underserved populations. For career changers, veterans, or students who took non-linear paths to medicine, this can be a decisive advantage.
One of the most persistent myths about osteopathic physicians is that they're limited to primary care. While it's true that a higher percentage of DOs choose family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics compared to their MD counterparts, DOs are practicing — and thriving — in virtually every specialty.
Here's where things get interesting for the career explorer who wants to think beyond traditional physician roles. While a physician DO typically follows the standard residency-to-practice pipeline, the broader medical education landscape includes niche clinical roles that complement or intersect with physician practice. Cardiovascular perfusionist programs, for example, train specialists who operate heart-lung machines during cardiac surgery. These programs are highly specialized, typically requiring a bachelor's degree in a science field and clinical experience.
Why do I mention cardiovascular perfusionist programs in a post about DOs? Because understanding the full ecosystem of healthcare opportunities helps aspiring physicians appreciate the collaborative nature of modern medicine. DOs who pursue cardiothoracic surgery or cardiac anesthesiology will work closely with perfusionists daily. And for students who begin exploring a medical career but realize they want a more focused clinical-technical path, cardiovascular perfusionist programs represent one of the many alternative routes worth investigating.
At healthcareers.app, we regularly see job seekers who started in one direction and pivoted — a pre-med student who discovered perfusion technology, an osteopathic medical student who fell in love with interventional cardiology during rotations. The healthcare field rewards people who stay curious about adjacent roles and specialties.
From my vantage point running a healthcare job board, I can share some observations about the current market for osteopathic physicians. The demand is robust and growing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued strong demand for physicians and surgeons overall, and the primary care physician shortage — particularly in rural and underserved areas — is a structural problem that will take decades to resolve. Because osteopathic medical schools have historically emphasized primary care and community-based training, DOs are uniquely positioned to fill these gaps. Many state and federal loan repayment programs specifically target primary care physicians willing to serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas, making the financial calculus of a DO education even more favorable.
In my experience working with healthcare employers who post on our platform, the vast majority do not distinguish between DO and MD credentials when hiring. What matters is board certification, clinical skills, cultural fit, and — increasingly — a demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care. If anything, the osteopathic emphasis on holistic practice can be a differentiator in interviews, particularly at organizations that have adopted value-based care models.
The explosion of telehealth has created new healthcare opportunities for physicians of all types, but DOs who trained in rural or community-based settings are often better prepared to leverage these platforms. Many rural health systems now use a hybrid model — in-person care supplemented by telehealth follow-ups — and physicians who are comfortable with both modalities are in especially high demand.
If you're weighing MD vs. DO, here are the practical factors I'd encourage you to consider:
Absolutely. A physician DO holds a doctoral-level medical degree, completes residency training, passes national licensing exams, and is fully authorized to practice medicine and surgery in all 50 states. DOs and MDs have equivalent practice rights and responsibilities.
Yes. DOs can and do pursue surgical residencies and fellowships, including general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and cardiothoracic surgery. Since the single accreditation system took effect in 2020, DO and MD graduates apply to and train in the same residency programs.
The timeline is essentially the same as for an MD: four years of undergraduate education, four years of osteopathic medical school, and three to seven years of residency training depending on the specialty. Fellowship training for subspecialties adds one to three additional years.
Compensation is determined by specialty, practice setting, geography, and experience — not by whether the physician holds a DO or MD degree. Physicians in the same specialty with the same credentials and experience generally earn comparable salaries regardless of degree type. Sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics report physician and surgeon compensation without distinguishing between DO and MD credentials.
Cardiovascular perfusionist programs train clinical specialists who operate extracorporeal circulation equipment (heart-lung machines) during cardiac surgery. While this is not a physician role, perfusionists work alongside cardiac surgeons — including physician DOs — as essential members of the surgical team. For students exploring the full range of healthcare opportunities in cardiovascular medicine, both the physician path and the perfusionist path are worth investigating.
The physician DO path has never been more viable, more respected, or more aligned with where healthcare is heading. As the industry shifts toward whole-person care, preventive medicine, and addressing physician shortages in underserved communities, osteopathic physicians are positioned to lead. Whether you're a pre-med student weighing your options, a career changer exploring healthcare opportunities, or a practicing DO looking for your next role, the landscape is rich with possibility. At healthcareers.app, we're committed to helping you find the right fit — not just any job, but the role that matches your training, your values, and your vision for the kind of physician you want to be. I encourage you to explore the opportunities on our platform and take the next step with confidence.
Leave Your Comment: