A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) can become an orthopedic surgeon, holding the same legal and professional standing as a Doctor of Medicine (MD). Both degrees signify a fully licensed physician who has completed rigorous medical education and residency training in the United States. The challenge for any aspiring physician lies in the intense competition for positions in highly specialized fields like orthopedic surgery. Understanding the specific nature of the DO degree and the unified system for postgraduate training is key to navigating this demanding career track.
Understanding the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Degree
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree represents one of the two fully accredited pathways to becoming a physician in the United States. DO schools emphasize a holistic approach to patient care, viewing the mind, body, and spirit as interconnected units. This perspective leads to an additional focus on prevention and the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
The foundational science and clinical training in a DO program are nearly indistinguishable from those in an MD program. Both tracks require four years of medical school, covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical rotations across various specialties. DO students complete an additional minimum of 200 hours of training in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), which involves hands-on techniques to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal issues.
Graduates of osteopathic medical schools are licensed to practice medicine and surgery in all 50 states, holding the same prescribing and surgical rights as their allopathic (MD) counterparts. State medical boards examine and license both DOs and MDs based on the same standards for practice. This equivalence establishes the DO degree as a robust qualification for any medical specialty, including orthopedic surgery.
The Unified Residency Match for DOs
The mechanism for a DO to secure an orthopedic surgery position is through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match. This system became the sole pathway for both DO and MD graduates following the transition to a single accreditation system for graduate medical education (GME) in 2020. This single system is overseen by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which now accredits all residency programs.
Before this transition, DO graduates could apply to separate residency programs accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or the ACGME. The unification process eliminated the AOA match, requiring all DO graduates to compete directly with MD graduates for all ACGME-accredited residency slots. Programs previously accredited by the AOA transitioned to ACGME accreditation, meaning nearly all available residency positions are now part of the single match. This unified system standardized the application process but increased direct competition, especially for highly selective surgical specialties.
Navigating Orthopedic Surgery Residency Applications
Orthopedic surgery is one of the most competitive specialties, making the application process intensely demanding for any candidate. The match rate for DO seniors is significantly lower than for their MD counterparts. Recent data shows the match rate for DO students applying to orthopedic surgery is around 50% to 60%, compared to approximately 70% to 75% for MD students.
Success requires a strategic approach that begins early in medical school. A significant factor evaluated by residency programs is performance on standardized board examinations. While DO students take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX), applying to competitive ACGME programs often necessitates taking the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) as well. Successful DO applicants in the 2022 match had average USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) scores of approximately 243 and 250, placing them near the top of the applicant pool.
Academic metrics must be paired with extensive experience in the specialty. Programs look for applicants with a substantial track record of research, demonstrating commitment and intellectual curiosity. Matched applicants generally have an average of six or more research experiences and over 16 abstracts, presentations, or publications. This level of productivity requires applicants to engage in research projects from their first year of medical school.
The application must also feature multiple surgical sub-internships (“sub-Is”). These are four-week clinical rotations performed during the final year of medical school, allowing students to function at the level of an intern. Strong, specialty-specific letters of recommendation from orthopedic faculty are also paramount for demonstrating clinical and technical aptitude. Successfully navigating this process requires students to plan their four years of medical school with a singular focus on achieving these high-level metrics.
Training and Professional Practice Parity
Once a DO secures an ACGME-accredited orthopedic surgery residency position, the training experience is identical to that of an MD resident. The five-year residency curriculum is standardized across all ACGME programs, with no distinction in rotations, surgical volume, or educational requirements based on the physician’s degree. All residents must meet the same milestones and demonstrate the same level of surgical skill to successfully complete the program.
Following residency, DO orthopedic surgeons achieve board certification through the same national bodies that certify their MD colleagues. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) does not differentiate between allopathic and osteopathic graduates. Certification requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations to demonstrate mastery of the specialty.
In professional practice, the distinction between a DO and an MD orthopedic surgeon disappears entirely. Both are fully licensed to perform the complete scope of orthopedic procedures, hold the same hospital privileges, and are subject to the same standards of care and ethical requirements. The DO designation does not restrict the surgeon’s ability to practice in any subspecialty, such as joint replacement, sports medicine, or spinal surgery.