Osteopathic – Osteopathic Founders Foundation

2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report

2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report announces the profession has surpassed the 200,000 mark. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students! The AOA’s 2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report provides an annual update on the growth within the osteopathic medical profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine.

What began as a revolutionary set of founding principles introduced by frontier physician A.T. Still, DO, in 1874, has expanded into a community of physicians and medical students dedicated to caring for the body, mind and spirit of millions of patients across the nation. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students. Since the AOA began keeping these records in 1935, the total number of DOs has increased by 158,000 (1,721%).

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, now practice across a wide range of medical disciplines, combining their expertise with a whole-person approach centered on listening to and partnering with their patients. Today the osteopathic medical profession represents approximately 11% of all physicians and more than 25% of all medical students in the U.S.

More prospective physicians than ever are choosing to become DOs, with nearly 40,000 medical students attending 44 colleges of osteopathic medicine across 71 campuses. DOs hold some of the most distinguished positions in medicine today, caring for the U.S. President, overseeing the NASA medical team and leading some of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and health systems. About 38% of military physicians are DOs.

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AOA Offers Patient Access Impact Amid Government Funding Concerns

Letter from the AOA: The American Osteopathic Association is disappointed that Congress could not come to an agreement to continue funding the government, and we are deeply concerned about the impact a lapse in funding will have on patients and physicians across the country, particularly the disruptions this will cause to patient care. While the AOA will continue to advocate in Congress toward a swift resolution, we wish to share critical resources and information to support physician practices as they navigate the outcomes of this funding lapse.

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Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the CY2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule which includes updates to physician payment policies, the Quality Payment Program (QPP), and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. AOA’s strong advocacy secured enactment of legislation that includes a positive 2.5% increase to the 2026 conversion factor (CF), and successfully defended the .75% and .25% positive increase to the CF that was included in MACRA, which takes effect in 2026, from being repealed. Key takeaways include the following

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AOA 2025 Annual Report

This annual report highlights the many ways the AOA supports and advances the osteopathic medical profession. From federal and state advocacy and osteopathic medical student parity to board certification, strategic partnerships and affiliate relations updates—you’ll find so much more to explore on key strategic topics:

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2024 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report

2024 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report tracks expansion of osteopathic medicine. The number of osteopathic physicians in the U.S. has increased by more than 70% in the past decade.

The AOA’s Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report provides an annual update on the expansion and growth within the osteopathic medical profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine in 2024.

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More Women, DO’s Among Licensed Physicians

The latest census of physician licensees shows a growing population of female physicians and those with a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree.

In 2022, 37% of the physician workforce was female, compared with 30% in 2010, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards’ (FSMB) biennial “Census of Licensed Physicians in the U.S.” The number of licensed female physicians grew by 54% since 2010, compared with an 11% increase for male physicians, reported Aaron Young, PhD, of the FSMB, and colleagues.

In addition, the percentage of DOs in the physician workforce rose to 11% from 7% during that time, and the number of doctors with a DO degree grew 89% from 2010 to 2022, compared with an 18% increase for MDs, they noted in the Journal of Medical Regulation.

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With Few MD’s Practicing in Rural Areas, A Different Type of Doctor is Filling the Gap

For 35 years, this town’s residents have brought all manner of illnesses, aches, and worries to Kevin de Regnier’s storefront clinic on the courthouse square — and he loves them for it.

De Regnier is an osteopathic physician who chose to run a family practice in a small community. Many of his patients have been with him for years. Many have chronic health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or mental health struggles, which he helps manage before they become critical.

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Are Health Outcomes Any Different With MDs vs DOs?

Quality and cost of care were similar between allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians who care for older patients in hospital settings, according to a retrospective observational study.

Of over 300,000 Medicare admissions, the adjusted 30-day mortality rate was similar between MDs (9.4%) and DOs (9.5%), with an average marginal effect (AME) of -0.1 percentage point (95% CI, -0.4 to 0.1, P=0.36), reported Atsushi Miyawaki, MD, PhD, of the University of Tokyo in Japan, and co-authors.

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The Relationship Between Required Physician Letters of Recommendation and Decreasing Diversity in Osteopathic Medical School Admissions

Some racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in the medical field because they face unique barriers to admission to medical school. One admission requirement that can present a barrier for applicants is the physician letter of recommendation (PLOR). Undergraduate students report confusion with the application process and lack of mentorship to be two of their biggest challenges to becoming a doctor. It is especially challenging to those who already have limited access to practicing physicians. Therefore, we hypothesized that in the presence of a PLOR requirement, the diversity of students who apply and matriculate into medical school will be decreased.

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Representation Matters: OSU Medical Students Recognized for Their Desire to Care for Underserved Populations

Diego Dominguez’ trail to becoming an Oklahoma State University Scholar in Urban Medicine and a third-year medical student started years ago when he was just 12 years old on his first visit to a doctor after moving from El Salvador to his new home in the United States. That visit did not go well.

“I couldn’t explain my symptoms in a different language and unlike the other patients at the clinic I didn’t have anyone to translate for me,” Dominguez recalls.