[Anne Hall]

A D.O. is a Doctor of Osteopathy. There is a great deal of overlap in the coursework that D.O.s and M.D.s take in their professional training, but osteopaths believe that disease manifests itself in soft tissue and that doctors must address those symptoms through attention to and manipulation of soft tissue. Not surprisingly, chiropracty (hard tissue manipulation) arose through osteopathy. D.O.s can prescribe drugs. In some parts of the country, they are every bit as accepted for primary care as M.D.s but in other parts, they struggle and have had to adapt. (how do I know this? I previously worked in medical and science publishing).

I think it's possible to find a good doc regardless of training but it isn't easy. I have a lifelong history of middle ear problems. An Iyengar yoga instructor and macrobiotic follower suggested I swear off dairy to avoid further surgery. To my surprise, my Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon agreed that it was a sound idea to try, not quite for the same reasons she cited. After a lifetime of "intimate" relationships with ENT surgeons and more than 10 operations, I finally have one that has explained what's happening and why. And his bacground is...veterinary medicine! He came to the US from the Dutch Virgin Islands to be a vet, discovered medicine and never looked back. I just feel so fortunate to have found a healer who is a teacher as well.