A person desiring to enter this field can expect to spend approximately 8 or more years to acquiring their education, and must continue to learn new skills and methods throughout their career. The hours involved in attaining the degrees and practicing medicine are substantial and can interfere with one's private life. Treating the ill and injured can also be mentally and physically draining and can cause extreme amounts of stress in physicians. However, medicine can be an extremely rewarding career, as well as lucrative and fulfilling.
Physicians have many career options and can practice virtually anywhere.
In reality, there is very little difference between the two types. Osteopaths take the same courses and licensing tests as MDs. Osteopaths were originally founded on the ideas of stressing prevention, communicating effectively with patients, and an holistic approach. At the time, these were radical ideas, but today these concepts are taught to all doctors. Osteopaths are general practitioners first, specialists second.