The Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine: A Brief History

If you are considering applying to a prestigious osteopathic school, it’s important to understand how osteopathy began as a branch of medicine and how it has evolved to where it is today.

So, let’s take a look back at the history of osteopathy.

The First Osteopathic Medical School

Andrew Taylor Still, MD, a famous doctor from the 1800s, believed that osteopathy was an important new science.

He thought that the way medicine was practised at the time often did more harm than good and that modern medicine had not been able to find the causes of diseases or make effective solutions.

Still opened the American School of Osteopathy (now called A.T. Still University) in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1892 to pass on his revolutionary treatment method.

How It All Begun

Osteopathic medicine is a unique healthcare approach. It was started in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who wanted to find a better, more complete way to treat his patients.

Dr. Still wasn’t happy with the limitations and possible harms of 19th-century medicine, so he questioned the general use of drugs that didn’t work and treatments that were too invasive.

He didn’t just want to treat symptoms; he also wanted to learn about the basics of good health so that he could better understand what causes disease.

In reaction, Dr. Still came up with a medical philosophy based on ideas from Hippocrates, who is known as the “Father of Medicine.” His way of thinking focused on how the body’s systems are linked, with the musculoskeletal system being an important part of general health.

He believed that the body had the power to heal itself and pushed preventive medicine, good nutrition, and physical exercise as important parts of health.

Before the word “wellness” became popular, Dr. Still pushed for people to take charge of their health.

Today, osteopathic doctors look at a person’s health risks, like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stress, and lifestyle choices, to make personalized treatment plans.

DOs do more than just treat patients. They also teach their patients how to improve their health by making good changes to their lifestyle.

A lot of what osteopathy teaches has also been used in sports medicine, which focuses on the musculoskeletal system, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), food, exercise, and getting fit.

Because of this, a lot of professional sports teams, the Olympics, and personal sports doctors depend on DOs to help athletes stay healthy and perform at their best.

Modern Age Osteopathy

Today’s osteopathic doctors (DOs) carry on the work of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.

They want to make healthcare more accessible, especially in places that aren’t well served, and provide patient-centered care that combines cutting-edge technology with a whole-person approach to treatment.

A Commitment to Primary Care and Rural Medicine

More than half of all osteopathic doctors work in basic care, such as pediatrics, internal medicine, general practice, and obstetrics and gynecology.

DOs are very important in family medicine because they are often the first person patients see at any time of their lives.

A lot of DOs also choose to work in small towns and rural places, where it can be hard to get medical care. They make sure that even remote areas get full and ongoing medical care by filling the critical lack of family doctors.

Balancing Innovation with a Hands-On Approach

Osteopathic doctors are still at the cutting edge of modern medicine because they use cutting edge technology along with a focus on the whole person.

They combine new scientific discoveries with tried-and-true osteopathic concepts by:

• Carefully listening to their patients’ worries and making sure they fully understand what they need.

• Looking for past signs, you can treat patients as whole people, not just as conditions.

Hands to find out what’s wrong and treat injuries and illnesses using osteopathic manual treatment (OMT), a special technique that helps people heal and move around better.

DOs are committed to bridging the gap between high-tech medicine and hands-on healing, making sure that all patients, no matter where they live, receive caring, individualized care.

According to the 2024 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report, there has been a 70% increase in osteopathic practitioners in the US over the last decade.

This indicates that there has been a rising interest in osteopathy in the healthcare sector.

An increasing number of students are now choosing to become DOs. As a result, the osteopathic medicine field is growing every year.

Nearly 8,200 new osteopathic doctors graduated this spring, which added to the growing number of doctors in the field.

Also, about 40,000 students are currently enrolled in osteopathic medical schools for the 2024–25 school year.

Because of this steady rise in interest, there are now 197,398 practicing DOs and osteopathic medical students across the country.

This shows that the field is becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare.

Final Thoughts

From its humble beginnings on the Missouri frontier in 1874, osteopathic medicine has grown into a vital and respected branch of modern healthcare.

Founded by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, osteopathy was built on the belief that the body functions as a unified whole and possesses an innate ability to heal itself.

This philosophy, rooted in preventive care, holistic treatment, and hands-on techniques, set osteopathic medicine apart from conventional medical practices of the time.

Over the years, DOs have continued to expand their influence, bridging the gap between traditional medicine and patient-centered care.

Today, they play a crucial role in primary care, specialty fields, and underserved communities, ensuring that comprehensive healthcare reaches those who need it most.

With growing student enrollment, expanding research, and increasing recognition, the future of osteopathic medicine looks brighter than ever.

As the profession continues to evolve, its core principles of whole-person care, hands-on healing, and medical innovation remain as relevant today as they were when Dr. Still first introduced them.