Imagine that you're dwelling in a makeshift forest cabin, providing you with essential safety and warmth. The cabin is your only refuge, in the otherwise untamed wilderness.

Suddenly, a torrential downpour starts, a far cry from the light rains typical of my hometown, San Diego. This storm is a monsoon, its relentless force generating a whooshing sound against your cabin's window panes, making you long for the comfort of a toasty fireplace.

Amid the storm, you discern an unfamiliar sound...drip...drip..drip…drip drip. Recognizing a leak, you swiftly position a bucket underneath it. A similar sound echoes from a different part of the cabin. Yet another leak. More buckets are positioned, the roof's multiple leaks becoming overwhelmingly apparent. 

You use various buckets to catch the leaks, but it feels like a losing battle against the water invasion. 

However, the perspective of a D.O. diverges here. Where a medical doctor (M.D.) might continue positioning buckets to stem the flood, a D.O.'s approach would be to identify the root cause and fix the leaky roof itself!

Essentially, a D.O. views and treats the patient holistically, in contrast to an M.D., who usually focuses on treating specific ailments. Both, however, aim to improve the patient's health and are equally competent, despite their differing methods.

The holistic approach, favored by D.O.'s, entails considering the entire problem instead of employing the "bug and drug" strategy, where a single problem is treated with a specific drug. 

We need to shift our focus from the disease to the person. A broader perspective can better serve the patient's needs and prevent further issues. 

Regrettably, many osteopaths complete their training and neglect or abandon their unique techniques. Many patients consult D.O.s without realizing it, as is often the case with me. I'm proud to say that osteopathic techniques are integral to my treatment.

In some specialties, it's harder for osteopaths to utilize their unique skills, such as radiologists who spend their days interpreting images and don't usually interact with patients.

The osteopathic philosophy traces back to 1874, when Dr. A.T. Still emphasized treating illness in the context of the entire body, pioneering the wellness concept. After experiencing personal tragedy and dedicating years to understanding disease origins, Dr. Still concluded that the body has innate healing capabilities and that illness should be treated holistically. 

Armed with his revolutionary philosophy, Dr. Still established the first osteopathic medical school in Kirksville, Missouri, thus birthing osteopathic medicine.

However, D.O.'s haven't always been well received in the U.S., often contending with bias and unequal opportunities, despite their comparable qualifications. 

An emblematic case is California, where osteopathic schools flourished in the early 1900s, but legal disputes later led to their transition into M.D. schools. A group of determined D.O.s challenged this ruling in the California Supreme Court, leading to anti-discrimination legislation protecting D.O.s.

One such pioneering D.O. was a patient of mine, and during our sessions, we often discussed his struggles in championing the D.O. cause. 

Even today, osteopathic students face additional hurdles, including higher rotation fees at some teaching hospitals.

Despite these historical and ongoing challenges, today D.O.s practice without restrictions in all U.S. states and territories. We serve diverse communities, the military, and international patients.

Increased visibility, such as Dr. Sean Conley, a Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus and President Trump's physician during his COVID-19 treatment, helps raise awareness of the strength and value of osteopathic medicine.