Medical Degrees: What They Mean

By Judy Kirkwood

When we talk about going to the doctor, most of us are referring to seeing an MD. But there are other kinds of doctors who diagnose and treat patients: chiropractor, osteopath, and naturopath. What’s the difference? And what is a homeopath?

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Physician (MD) Your primary doctor is probably certified in Internal Medicine, a specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. An internal medicine doctor, called an “internist,” not to be confused with “intern,” is the starting point for health problems; ideally, when patients are referred to specialists their internist manages their care.

For training, MDs generally take pre-med courses in college, go to a medical school for four years to earn an MD degree, and do a one-year internship and two-year residency at hospitals. Specialists in different areas of medicine – e.g., dermatology, gastroenterology – do a three-year residency in their specialty, often followed by a one- to two-year post residency fellowship. MDs are certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and are required to update their certification every seven to ten years and to take continuing education courses for credit.

Osteopath (DO) A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) is a fully trained and licensed doctor, able to prescribe drugs, perform surgeries and practice medicine anywhere in the U.S., but with a DO from an osteopathic medical school, rather than an MD from a conventional (allopathic or mainstream) medical school. Osteopaths incorporate alternative medicine into their treatments, emphasizing the body and mind’s ability to heal itself when given the full spectrum of healing treatments. In a sense, osteopaths are both chiropractors and doctors, as they receive hundreds of hours of instruction in musculoskeletal manipulation (OMT, osteopathic manipulation therapy). Osteopaths tend to be more interactive with educating patients and soliciting their input, and more open to alternative medicine practices. Today one in five medical students are training to be osteopathic physicians, which demonstrates the public’s interest in alternative medicine.

Chiropractor (DC) A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) is a fully trained and licensed doctor, able to prescribe drugs, perform surgeries and practice medicine anywhere in the U.S., but with a DO from an osteopathic medical school, rather than an MD from a conventional (allopathic or mainstream) medical school. Osteopaths incorporate alternative medicine into their treatments, emphasizing the body and mind’s ability to heal itself when given the full spectrum of healing treatments. In a sense, osteopaths are both chiropractors and doctors, as they receive hundreds of hours of instruction in musculoskeletal manipulation (OMT, osteopathic manipulation therapy). Osteopaths tend to be more interactive with educating patients and soliciting their input, and more open to alternative medicine practices. Today one in five medical students are training to be osteopathic physicians, which demonstrates the public’s interest in alternative medicine.

Naturopath (ND) A naturopath is a primary care (or specialty) physician who has been clinically trained in natural therapies, including nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, natural childbirth, and counseling and stress management. The basis of naturopathic medicine is prevention of disease and working with the patient’s self-healing process using methods that minimize side effects and the harmful suppression of symptoms. A naturopath with an ND has a degree from a four-year naturopathic medical school and is trained in both western medical approaches and non-toxic natural therapies. They can order certain tests like x-rays and refer patients to other doctors, but they cannot prescribe pharmaceutical medications or perform anything but minor office surgery. Practice is regulated by state but naturopaths should have passed the NPLEX boards and meet continuing education requirements.

Homeopath Homeopathy is the practice of restoring balance to the body through substances found in nature -- e.g., plants and minerals -- rather than through manufactured prescription drugs. The natural remedies are prepared in extremely diluted non-toxic micro-doses. The foundation of homeopathy is the “law of similars”: a medicine can cure an illness in a sick patient if it can cause a similar sickness in a healthy person.

Homeopaths are not doctors and don’t need a medical license, but generally spend years training to diagnose and treat diseases. Homeopaths can acquire certification in homeopathic medicine from online courses rather than attending a program in person. Some courses require students to already have a medical degree or license; others are open to anyone. Arizona, Connecticut, and Nevada license homeopaths who are also physicians. California, Rhode Island, and Minnesota allow unlicensed practitioners to practice homeopathy. The Council for Homeopathic Certification (CHC) works to promote standardized practices, so if you are interested in pursuing this unconventional treatment, look for an affiliation with CHC in education or background of homeopaths. Bear in mind, though that the federal National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has issued a statement that says, "There is little evidence to support homeopathy as an effective treatment for any condition."

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