| This study examines the status of osteopathic medicine in the United States from 1960 to the year 2000. It is hypothesized that by emulating allopathic medical education, osteopathy has survived and thrived whereas other medical practice philosophies have disappeared. This success has come at the price of experts questioning the need for a separate osteopathic profession.; This study uses the historical methodology to look at the record of osteopathic medicine from 1960 to 2000 as a basis for assessing the continued viability of osteopathic medicine as a separate and distinct branch of medicine. This study also adds to the literature regarding osteopathic medicine, because the last major study on this subject was published in 1982. Finally, the study provides a current assessment of the healthcare delivery system as a needed context for understanding the status of osteopathic physicians.; The findings confirm that the success of osteopathic medicine in emulating allopathic medical education has resulted in the increased acceptance of osteopathic physicians in the mainstream medical world. Conversely, society in general remains unaware of the definition of an osteopathic physician in an increasingly complex healthcare system.; The future direction of osteopathic medicine is unclear in that (a) there is little pressure within the profession for change, (b) applications to osteopathic medical schools remain sufficiently high to fill classes with qualified students, and (c) osteopathic physicians are able to secure the graduate training and employment they seek. |
