Known as MD’s (allopathic medicine) or DO (osteopathic medicine)

Practitioner: Doctors perform health assessments, run diagnostic tests, prescribe medication, create treatment plans and provide health and wellness advice to patients. Doctors can specialize in specific areas of health; they might also perform surgery. Doctors work in hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, community health centers or private or group physicians’ offices.

• Allopathic Medicine (MD): Allopathic medicine refers to a system in which medical doctors and other healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists) treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery.
• Osteopathic Medicine (DO): Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, are fully licensed physicians who practice in all areas of medicine. Emphasizing a whole-person approach to treatment and care, DOs are trained to listen and partner with their patients to help them get healthy and stay well.

Length of Medical Education: Varies on average 3-4 years of medical school after undergraduate studies plus additional years for clinical, residency and fellowship.

Research-Based MD-PHD Programs:

Known as MD-PhD (allopathic medicine doctor and a doctor of philosophy)

Research-Based Practitioner: MD-PhD programs are usually research-oriented appealing to those who prefer research based medical practice over clinical practice and want to become research physicians. MD-PhD programs provide training in both medicine and research. An MD-PhD can be pursued through a combined dual degree program, earning both MD and PhD degree.

Length of MD-PhD Education: Varies on average 7-8 years of both graduate and medical school after undergraduate studies plus additional years for research, clinical, residency and fellowship.

Helpful Links:

• “Is Medicine Right for Me?”
• Medical Specialties
• What is a DO?
• The Road to Becoming a Doctor
• pre-med through residency
• Medical Research
• Osteopathic Medicine?
• Become an Osteopathic Physician
• Research-Based MD/PHD Programs

Known as DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine)

Practitioner: Dentists are responsible for preventing, treating, and maintaining the oral health of their patients. Instrumental in the early detection of oral cancer and systemic conditions that manifest in and around the oral cavity. A successful dentist is someone artistic, easy to talk to, a leader, and likes to work with their hands. Dentistry can appeal to though looking for a flexible career.

• Difference between DDS and DMD: The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It's up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded, but both degrees use the same curriculum requirements.

• Research-Based: Serve as the forefront of new developments in dental implants, computer-generated imaging, and cosmetic and aesthetic procedures. Advances in dental research, including genetic engineering, the discovery of links between oral and systemic diseases, the development of salivary diagnostics and the continued development of new materials and techniques, make dentistry an exciting.

Length of Dental Education: Average 4 years of dental school after undergraduate studies plus any additional time if dental specialties pursued.

Helpful Links:

• ADEA
• American Dental Association
• Dental Specialties
• Becoming a Dentist

Known as PA’s and professionally as PA-C as Physician Assistant Certified.

Practitioner: Physician assistants have a similar role to primary care doctors. They treat, diagnose, and prescribe medication, but are under the supervision of a medical doctor.

• On average higher amounts of healthcare/patient contact hours required to apply for PA school than other health professions.
• Physician Assistant Programs award a master’s degree.

Difference between Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners:

*PA training on average includes up to 2000 hours of clinical training as part of the education. Rotations will take place in a number of different settings and specialties. PA’s are trained to be able to change specialties without further training.

*Nurse Practitioners are trained at various statuses that include being a registered nurse (RN) and then pursuing advanced licensing and complete roughly around 600 hours of additional clinical experiences. For nurse practitioners that want to change specialties, additional formal training and certification are required.

*Both in most states and territories work under the supervision of a medical doctor.

Length of PA Education: Average 27 months

Helpful Links:

• What is a Physician Assistant?
• PAEA
• Surgical Physician Assistant

Education required for this specialty.

Anesthesiologist Assistant

Known as PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

Practitioner: Licensed doctorial health profession that prepares medications by reviewing and interpreting physician orders; detecting therapeutic incompatibilities. They dispense medications by compounding, packaging and labeling pharmaceuticals and controls medications by monitoring drug therapies and advising interventions. They also supervise the work of Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants.

• Pharmacists work in a variety of different healthcare settings: retail, hospitals, government and military facilities, research labs, clinics and other patient care settings, consultants, and pharmaceutical sales.

Length of Pharmacy Education: Average 4 years of pharmacy school.

Helpful Links:

• Pharmacy for Me
• Is Pharmacy For You?
• AACP
• Pharmacy-related careers.

Known as DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or VMD (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris)

Practitioner: Veterinarians are responsible for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of disease in animals. They can work in private practice, zoos, wildlife parks, and the government (FDA, NIH, and CDC).

• There are few difference between DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and VMD (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris) and are practically the same degree, differences in the name stem from area where the degree was received. All US schools awarded DVM degrees with the exception of University of Pennsylvania which awards a VMD degree.

Length of Veterinarian Education: Average 4 years after undergraduate studies.

Helpful links:

• Veterinary Careers
• AAVMC
• Veterinary Public Health or Research
• Veterinary Specialists
• Primate medicine
• Vet-related opportunities

Known as Doctors of Optometry (ODs)

Practitioner: Optometrists evaluate a patient's overall vision health as well as examine, diagnose and treat patients for any conditions affecting vision. This includes prescribing corrective lenses such as glasses and contacts.

• Doctors of Optometry (ODs), commonly known as optometrists, are independent primary health care professionals for the eyes. They are trained to evaluate a patient’s visual condition and determine the best treatment for that condition.
• Shouldn’t be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians.
  • Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery, in addition to diagnosing and treating eye conditions.
  • Dispensing Opticians fit eyeglasses and contact lenses, following prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.

Length of Optometry Education: Average 4 years of optometry school after undergraduate studies.

Helpful Links:

• Optometry Career Guide
• ASCO

Known as Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)

Practitioner: Podiatrists treat and diagnose foot disorders resulting from injury or disease. Practitioners usually specialize in a particular area of podiatric medicine, varying from surgery, sports medicine, biomechanics, geriatric care, pediatrics, orthopedics, or primary care.

Helpful links:

• Podiatric Medicine Overview
• AACPM College Information Book
• Find Accredited Podiatric Medical Schools
• Council on Podiatric Medical Education
• American Podiatric Medical Association

Length of Podiatry Education: Average 4 years in a college of podiatric medicine after undergraduate studies. Medical school is followed by a 36-month residency.