PRE-OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL TRAINING 
at UW OSHKOSH

The field of osteopathic medicine is very similar to the field of "regular" medicine, often referred to as "allopathic" medicine to distinguish it from osteopathic medicine. The endpoint of formal education is the same, since DO and MD students take the same Board exams.  

The difference between the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) and the M.D. degree lies primarily in the emphasis placed during the training years on palpatory diagnosis and manipulative treatment in conjunction with all other recognized diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in total health care management. 

A UW Oshkosh alumnus in DO school explains: "...[DO and MD] training is very similar, actually most [DO] students take the Osteopathic and Allopathic (MD) boards.  So if students think that Osteopathic school is not equal [to Allopathic (MD) school], I would say they are right, because besides the allopathic material [DOs] need to learn, we also have to learn manual medicine. I think an Osteopath is kind of like a Physician and Chiropractor all wrapped into one. Though 90% of Osteopaths will never use their manipulative training, they did learn it at one time."

Osteopaths are not limited to family practice/general care, but can also specialize just as Allopaths do.

Email UW Oshkosh alumnus ERIC GRAJKOWSKI who (as of Fall 2004) is in his 4th year of Osteopathy Medical School now, on an Air Force scholarship, and has decided to go into family practice.

Email UW Oshkosh alumnus ANTHONY RENKAS who (as of Fall 2004) is in his 1st year of Osteopathy Medical School now. 

• Preparation for a career in Osteopathic Medicine is much like that for Medicine (so go visit that advising web page).
• To learn about the differences between these two, visit the web site of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, at http://www.aacom.org/.  See especially the "Overview" section.
• A list of Schools of Osteopathic Medicine can be viewed at http://www.aacom.org/home-applicants/index.html. There is none in Wisconsin, but most of the surrounding states have one.

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Last updated on 03/31/2005.  Contact webmaster.

This page will be revised substantially in the Spring of 2005.