A pediatric doctor of osteopathy is a pediatrician who has completed medical school and pediatric residency with an osteopathic philosophy. Many pediatric DO's are Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) is a physician licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Like an allopathic physician (MD) an osteopathic physician completes 4 years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However, osteopathic physicians receive an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body's musculoskeletal system.
Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing the entire patient as a whole, rather than focusing on one system or body part. An osteopathic physician will often use a treatment method called manipulation -- a hands-on approach to assure that the body is moving freely.
What's New
I am thrilled to introduce you to the web site for the newly formed Provisional Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians.
The goals of the section include: 1) Fostering collaborative working relationships between state osteopathic associations and their allopathic counterparts to untie all pediatricians to become stronger advocates for children; 2) Provide medical students, osteopathic pediatric residents and young physicians the opportunity to take advantage of AAP resources including education, publications policy and child advocacy efforts to name a few; 3) To develop and coordinate with the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians CME opportunities; and 4) To educate both osteopathic pediatricians and allopathic pediatricians on osteopathic principals.
We need your help! Please consider not only joining the Section but also volunteering. We will be looking for state contacts to help strengthen advocacy and collaboration efforts at the local level. Currently we are in the process of developing CME opportunities and Section activities for the upcoming NCE meetings in Boston (2008) and Washington, DC (2009). We will continue to work collaboratively to strengthen the osteopathic pediatric community.
Lisa D. Ryan, D.O. Chair, Provisional Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians
Chair, Legislative Committee AAP Maine Chapter
AAP Member Center Content - The content below is available to MEMBERS OF THIS SECTION and/or COUNCIL. Login is required.