Resources
In 2023, there were over 148,000 osteopathic physicians and over 38,000 osteopathic medical students in the United States. Most DO's practice medicine or surgery in a manner that is very similar to our MD counterparts. Many Family Practice DO's do include some basic osteopathic manipulation in their practice.
There are a smaller number of DO's in the United States dedicated to following osteopathy’s tradition of using their hands and palpatory skills in the practice of Osteopathic Manual Medicine. Those of us who practice this way of medicine have spent many extra hours developing our skills. Treatment styles vary considerably from physician to physician.
When looking for an American DO who practices Osteopathy, it is important to ask some fundamental questions:
1. Do you practice osteopathic manipulative treatment?
2. What percentage of your practice is manipulative treatment?
3. What style of manipulation do you practice?
4. What percentage of your practice is osteopathic cranial manipulation?
Ideally you want to find someone who specializes in Osteopathic Manual Medicine. To find a physician similar to Dr. Spector, we recommend finding a physician who uses Osteopathic Cranial Manipulation with all of their patients, preferably awarded a "Recognition of Proficiency" by Osteopathic Cranial Academy.
HOW TO FIND AN OSTEOPATH, physician directories:
Osteopathy in the Cranial Field: The Osteopathic Cranial Academy – see Find a Physician page on cranialacademy.org
Traditional Osteopathic Studies/Biodynamics of osteopathy in the cranial field: see Physician Directory page on www.jamesjealous.com
Osteopathic physicians practicing all forms of osteopathic manual medicine: American Academy of Osteopathy – see Find a Physician link on www.academyofosteopathy.org
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE:
American Osteopathic Association (AOA) – www.osteopathic.org
~ for information about the osteopathic medical profession in general:
OSTEOPATHIC MANUAL MEDICINE:
American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) – www.academyofosteopathy.org
~ for information about, and to find a physician who utilizes, the practice of all forms of osteopathic manual medicine. This website has a physician finder section.
CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY:
1. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy (OCA) – www.cranialacademy.org
~ for information about the specialty of cranial osteopathic manual medicine. This is the website Dr. Spector recommends to find a physician who practices similarly to her.
2. The Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation – www.sctf.com
~ dedicated to educational activities, promoting osteopathy in the cranial field as developed by William Garner Sutherland, DO
3. Traditional Osteopathic Studies – www.jamesjealous.com
~ the biodynamics of osteopathy in the cranial field as developed and taught by James Jealous, DO. This website has a physician’s directory.
OTHER WEBSITES OF DO’S WHO PRACTICE SIMILARLY TO DR. SPECTOR:
Eric Dolgin, DO, FCA - www.osteohome.com
Donald Hankinson, DO, FCA - http://osteopathichealthcareofmaine.com/
Zina Pelkey, DO, FCA - http://osteopathynewyork.com/
Mark Rosen, DO, FCA - www.osteodoc.com
Margaret Sorrel, DO, FCA - www.margaretsorrel.com includes information on treatment of infants and children