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What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)?

If you are like most people, you’ve been going to a doctor since you were born and perhaps you didn’t know if you were seeing a D.O., (osteopathic physician) or an M.D., (allopathic physician).

The fact is, both D.O.’s and M.D.’s are fully qualified physicians licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Is there any difference between these two kinds of doctors? Yes and No.

You are more than just the sum of your body parts. That’s why doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.’s) practice a “whole person” approach to health care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms, osteopathic physicians concentrate on treating you as a whole.

Osteopathic physicians understand how all the body’s systems are interconnected and how each one affects the others.

D.O.’s also use their ears- to listen to you and your health concerns. Doctors of osteopathic medicine help patients develop attitudes and lifestyles that don’t just fight illness, but help prevent it.


What is a General Surgeon?

A general surgeon is a physician who has completed an internship and residency at a Residency Review Committee approved program. Most of these are University based and offer rotations at busy private and county hospitals. The residency is a minimum of five years.

The last year is spent as Chief Resident where one is in charge of a team of junior residents and medical students and performs between 250 and 350 major cases. These are strict criteria for the number and variety of cases that one is exposed to. The residency is considered to be one of the most demanding, both mentally and physically, of all the medical specialties.

A general surgeon is well trained in the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of congenital, infectious, malignant and benign diseases. In addition, he or she has extensive knowledge of postoperative and critical care of patients.

The focus is on the abdominal organs, breast, neck, peripheral arteries and veins, and skin and soft tissue. Separate training is given for those who specialize in the bones (orthopedist), genitourinary system (urologist), brain and spine (neurosurgeon), and ears, nose, and throat (otolaryngologist).


Board Certification

A Board Certified General Surgeon is one who has completed the standard surgical residency with experience in a broad spectrum of surgical diseases and a minimum number of cases as set by the board.

He or she has passed a day-long written examination verifying an extensive knowledge base, and passed an oral examination. During the oral exam, candidates are interviews by three teams of prominent surgeons who evaluate the candidates’ ability to manage ordinary and complex surgical problems.

For more information about board certification, see the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Board of Surgery.

Specialties of a Board Certified General Surgeon

A surgeon who has attained certification by the American Board of Surgery has specialized knowledge and skill relating to the diagnosis, preoperative, operative, and postoperative management of surgical problems in the following areas of primary responsibility:
 

• Alimentary tract: Esophagus, Stomach, Small bowel, large bowel, rectum

• Abdomen and its contents: Diaphragm, Liver, Gallbladder and Bile Duct, Pancreas, Spleen

• Breast, skin, and soft tissue: Benign and malignant disease

• Endocrine: Thyroid, and Parathyroid glands, the Pancreas and Adrenal glands

• Surgical oncology: Coordinated care of the cancer patient

• Minimally invasive surgery: Should be up to date with recent advances in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery

• Comprehensive management of trauma: The responsibility for all phases of care of the injured patient

Minimally Invasive Surgery

The term “minimally invasive surgery” is used to describe abdominal surgery performed without making a large incision through the skin and muscle to open the abdomen. Instead, a laparoscope is inserted through a trochar inserted into the abdomen through a ½ inch incision. The abdomen is insufflated with C02 gas to distend it like a tent, allowing visualization of the abdominal organs.

Long hand-held instruments are inserted through smaller trochars and used to perform the surgery, while the surgeon views the inside of the abdomen on a TV screen. Specialized tools facilitate the surgeon’s ability to perform complex intraabdominal surgery using advanced laparoscopic techniques.

Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

We believe that laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized many aspects of general surgery. We are very experienced in laparoscopic removal of the gallbladder. Additionally, we perform most of our appendectomies with the laparoscopic technique. This allows a more thorough exploration of the abdomen and a shorter recovery, with most people returning to work or school in less than one week.

In addition, we have training and experience on advanced laparoscopic techniques such as inguinal hernia repair, ventral hernia repair, colon resection, small bowel resection, partial gastrectomy, splenectomy, and anti-reflux surgery. We have performed numerous advanced laparoscopic procedures at Medical Center Hospital and Odessa Regional Hospital, and are offering this option to all patients who are candidates.