A Note From the Dean
For the past several years in its official publications, the American Osteopathic Association
(AOA) has referred to the founder of osteopathy as Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO. For example,
see “Happy Birthday A. T. Still, MD, DO! 5 Facts About the Father of the Profession,” The DO,
2019: Aug 6. Available at: https://stcosmas.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Happy-Birthday-A.T.-Still-5-facts-about-the-father-of-the-profession-2025-12-18.pdf (accessed December 18, 2024).
Why shouldn’t all well-qualified US doctors of osteopathic medicine have the same option to use
the post-nominal initials DO and MD if they wish? Perhaps now they do.
Saints Cosmas and Damian Health Sciences College is chartered by the Caribbean government
of Anguilla with authority to verify original source credentials and issue diplomas or certificates
of equivalency to US physicians who have achieved equal educational, licensure, and
postgraduate training standards.
For more information, visit https://stcosmas.org or email me at medicine@stcosmas.education.
Sincerely,
s/Nick
Who Says DOs and MDs are Equal?
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB, which represents all the US medical licensing and disciplinary authorities, the USMLE (the United States Medical Licensing Examination, which creates, maintains, and administers the nation’s primary licensing examination process, and the list goes on and on. For more further information, visit https://stcosmas.org/Who-Says-DOs-and-MDs-Are-Equal.
Equality Infographic
Eligibility Criteria
Only those osteopathic physicians (DOs) who meet the following qualifications will be considered for a Doctor of Medicine (MD) certificate of equivalency:
- Be a graduate of a US medical school accredited the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA);
- Hold, or have held, an unrestricted medical license in good standing in a US jurisdiction;
- Successfully complete an Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)- or American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-accredited training program;
- Have completed requirements to be board-eligible or board-certified in a medical or surgical specialty accredited by the ACGME or AOA; and
- Provide evidence of a clear criminal and offender background screen.
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