Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. or DO) is an academic degree offered in the United States. It is a graduate-level first professional degree for physicians and surgeons, requiring four years to complete. Holders of the D.O. degree are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of the similar, but more common M.D. degree are known as allopathic physicians. The existence of this distinction and of D.O.s as licensed physicians is not widely known.[1]
In the United States, the D.O. and the M.D. are the only two degrees permitting licensure as medical physicians. D.O and M.D. physicians have similar training (both requiring 4 years of training in the basic and clinical sciences and include licensing exams) but osteopathic physicians receive additional training in Osteopathic Manual Manipulation.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a professional master's degree awarded for studies in areas related to public health. In the United States the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredit schools of public health through a formal review process. Master of Public Health program are available throughout the world in Medical Schools and School of Public Health.
MPH is usually a one or two year program[citation needed], with many students already possessing an advanced degree. In some countries the MPH program is only available for medical graduates (MBBS or equivalent), those without the medical degree can join the Master of Medical Science in Public Health program.