What is the difference between a DO and an MD?
Posted by: Heart and Vascular Care in Cardiology on June 28, 2019
If you see a physician for your any of your overall healthcare management, there’s a possibility that you’re seeing a D.O., not an M.D. While both degrees mean your doctor is a licensed physician, their training differs slightly and each has a unique perspective on care.
Heart and Vascular Care is excited to welcome the newest physician to our medical team, Stephen Fedec, DO, FACC, a board-certified interventional cardiologist. He explains, “A D.O. is an osteopathic physician, while an M.D. is a medical doctor, an allopathic physician.”
What is an MD?
When most people think of a physician, they’re thinking of an M.D. or medical doctor. MD’s practice a form of medicine called allopathic. Doctors of Medicine (M.D.’s) use treatments that affect someone who’s ill differently than someone who’s healthy.
What is a DO?
Short for Osteopathic Doctor, DO’s receive their medical degree from an accredited osteopathic school. Unlike MD’s, a DO is accredited by the American Osteopathic Associate Commission within the Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). D.O.’s are trained to have a more holistic approach to medicine and follow a medical philosophy called osteopathic medicine. DO’s are trained to consider a patient’s environment, nutrition, and body system as a whole when diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Dr. Fedec is fellowship trained and board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology. Prior to relocating to the Atlanta area, he was in private practice in southwest Florida, for 10 years, where he was also a part of the medical staff leadership. In his free time, Dr. Fedec enjoys flying, triathlon training and competition, reading, and spending time with his family.
At Heart and Vascular Care, we only use the most state-of-the-art equipment and up-to-date procedures currently available to diagnose and treat our patients. Above all else, Dr. Fedec’s top goal is to improve the quality of life for each patient by improving their health. He is now accepting new patients in our Buford and Canton offices.
Contact Heart and Vascular Care today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephen Fedec to have your individual healthcare needs assessed.