Which degree describes an allopathic physician licensed to diagnose, treat, prescribe, and perform surgery after medical school and residency?

• A. Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• B. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• C. Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• D. Physician Assistant (PA)

Answer: (A)

Allopathic medicine describes the traditional physician path where graduates diagnose, treat, prescribe, and, when needed, perform surgery after completing medical school and a residency. The degree that confers this licensed physician status is Doctor of Medicine. MDs undergo medical school training focused on scientific medicine and then practical residency to specialize and become fully licensed physicians.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a similar physician path, with additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment and a holistic approach, but it still leads to physician licensure to diagnose, treat, prescribe, and perform surgery.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are advanced practice clinicians who can diagnose and treat and often prescribe under supervision, but they are not physicians and do not complete the medical school plus residency pathway that defines allopathic physicians.