In the U.S., you can become a physician either by pursuing your medical education at an allopathic (MD) or an osteopathic school (DO). In any given year, University of Michigan consistently ranks among the top three universities in the nation for the highest number of graduates matriculating into allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. See Medical School Application Statistics for UM graduates. You owe it to yourself to understand both training options when deciding where to apply. Many students apply to both MD and DO schools.
Osteopathic medicine is a distinctive form of medical care founded on the philosophy that all body systems are interrelated and dependent upon one another for good health. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine provide comprehensive medical care to patients throughout the U.S. and must pass national and state medical board examinations in order to obtain licenses to practice medicine. Similar to allopathic medical doctors, DOs are licensed to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medication, perform surgery and may pursue primary care or specialize in a particular area. DOs use all of the tools available to modern medicine including prescription drugs and surgery, but they also incorporate osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) into their regimen of patient care when appropriate.
The first allopathic medical school was founded in 1791 at the University of Pennsylvania. Some 80 years later, Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., founded the first School of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal training and manipulation to aid bodily function. Over the next century, the two branches of medicine found themselves frequently in conflict until the mid ’70s when federal and state government bodies, as well as the American Medical Association, recognized them as equals.
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) has additional information on osteopathic medicine.
You may also find interesting to read A Brief Guide to Osteopathic Medicine For Students, by Students.