Differentiating designations for healthcare providers
Healthcare professionals can hold many different degrees and designations. Here’s a quick guide to help you determine what sort of education and training potential providers have:
M.D. = Medical Doctor
- 4-year undergraduate degree concentrated on science coursework
- 4 years of medical school
- 3-6 years of internships and residencies
- can select a specialty to develop expertise in areas such as cardiology, endocrinology, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry or surgery
- may not select a specialty and opt to serve as a primary-care physician
D.O. = Doctor of Osteopathy
- 4-year undergraduate degree concentrated on science coursework
- 4 years of medical school
- 3-6 years of internships and residencies
- can select a specialty, but most osteopathic doctors become primary-care physicians
- extra training in the musculoskeletal system – muscles, bones, and nerves
- approach tends to be more holistic than M.D.s
N.D. = Naturopathic Doctor
- 4-year undergraduate degree
- 4 years of a graduate program at an accredited naturopathic school; curriculum concentrates on nutrition, hydrotherapy, botanical and homeopathic medicine
- considered a primary-care physician; can prescribe limited amounts of medications, order lab tests, perform routine medical exams, and refer patients to specialists
- focuses on using natural and non-invasive therapies, and treating the person as a whole
D.C. = Doctorate of Chiropractic degree
- 4-year undergraduate degree
- 4 years of medical school
- concentrates on the musculoskeletal system
- provides pain relief by realigning bones and tissues
L.A.c. = Licensed Acupuncturist
- 4-year undergraduate degree
- typically 4 years of a graduate program concentrated on acupuncture, physiology, Chinese medical concepts, herbal pharmacology, nutrition and internal medicine
- completes programs based on both western and eastern modalities of medicine
N.P. or R.N.P. = Nurse Practitioner or Registered Nurse Practitioner
- 4-year undergraduate degree
- completes a graduate program in nursing, such as an M.S.N. [Master of Science in Nursing]
- can serve as a primary-care physician
- may select a specialty
F.N.P.-C = Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
- specializes in primary care, women’s health, pediatrics or geriatrics
F.A.C.O.G = Fellow of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology
N.C.M.P = National Certified Menopause Practitioner
- extra training in issues related to menopause and perimenopause
F.A.C.E. = Fellow of the College of Endocrinology
- board-certified with specialty training in endocrinology, the system that controls hormonal and adrenal function
Clara Wellness Center
8 Ginger Creek Parkway
Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034
Health By Design MD
16100 Chesterfield Parkway West
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017
