The D.O.'s: Osteopathic Medicine in America (Paperback)

by Professor Norman Gevitz (Author) "Much of the history relating to the early development of osteopathy has been obscured over time and is the subject of speculation..." (more)
Key Phrases: cultist label, organized osteopathy, osteopathic education, Los Angeles, House of Delegates, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a fine introduction to the early history of osteopathy, and it must be the starting point for persons seeking to understand the changing relationship between orthodox medicine and osteopathy." -- Journal of the American Medical Association

Product Description
Norman Gevitz focuses on the philosophy, teaching, and practice of osteopathy, as well as its impact on the medical community. He describes the theories underlying the use of spinal manipulation developed by osteopathy's founder, Andrew Taylor Still; traces the movement's early success despite heated opposition from the orthodox medical community; details the internal struggles to broaden osteopathy's scope to include the full range of pharmaceuticals and surgery; recounts the efforts of osteopathic colleges to achieve parity with institutions granting M.D. degrees; and looks at the continuing effort by its practitioners to achieve greater recognition and visibility. Gevitz also examines such significant events as the formation of the American Osteopathic Association and teh amalgamation of California D.O.'s with the orthodox medical establishment in the early 1960s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801843219
• ISBN-13: 978-0801843211
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #191,106 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #30 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Medicine > Internal Medicine > Osteopathy
  #30 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Alternative & Holistic > Osteopathy
  #45 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Osteopathy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for DO applicants!!, August 29, 1999

By A Customer

I read this book cover to cover before applying to osteopathic medical school and believe that it made a big difference in getting admitted. I was able to comprehensively discuss osteopathic principles and practice and critically evaluate decisions that the osteopathic profession has made along the way. The book is well researched (I think that it is based on Dr. Gevitz's dissertation) and historically accurate.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, December 23, 2000

By	Andrew W. Gottfried "Dr Drew" (Bay Village, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As chairperson of the social medicine department at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Norman Gevitz knows firsthand the details of ostepathy. This book is a thorough, well-written review of osteopathic medicine's climb into the medical arena; originating from the depths of the mind of its founder, Andrew Taylor Still in the late 1800's, into the growing profession of the 1980's. Unfortunately, however, it does not cover the growth and expansion of osteopathy in the last twenty years of the 20th century. It does explain, though, the legal and social struggles that osteopathy survived in its first 90 years. Gevitz also does a wonderful job explaining what ostopathy is and how it evolved from a holistic, drug-free approach to medical care into an alternative, legally licensed medical practice. I highly recommend this book for osteopathic medical school applicants. It is also an excellent book for those interested in the history and sociology of medicine in the United States.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History you will need, August 18, 2001

By A Customer

I bought the book in order to be prepared for my med school interview but never got it quite read. I found out upon my arrival at school in the fall that the book was a required read for my History of Osteopathic Medicine course. The book is a great resource to make a person more familiar with an ever growing branch of medicine; that there isn't just a world of MD's. And who knows, maybe it will get you a bit ahead of the game for your first class in your Osteopathic medical school :o)