The Osteopathic philosophy consistently recognizes that the “body is a unit…interconnected and interdependent on every other component,” and holds that ‘optimization’ of a person’s body systems is most successful when collaborative and comprehensive.’

Since 1874, OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS and their clinical teams have provided both holistic approaches AND true clinical medical insight and contributions to healthcare. In 1892 Andrew Taylor Still, MD officially opened the first osteopathic medical school in Kirksville, Missouri (A.T. Still University). And until 1961, Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine were still permitted to grant either an MD or DO degree - depending on whether students wanted to enroll in the additional 200-300 hours of Manipulative Medicine training.

The non-clinical practice of Manipulative Medicine is referred to as “Osteopathy” (from which Chiropractic adjustments were derived). It’s non-clinical modalities were introduced to the United Kingdom by graduates of the Dr. Still’s Osteopathic College of Medicine in 1902. It then was introduced to the rest of continental Europe, and then on to Canada. Most practitioners of “Osteopathy” are trained to the level of Bachelor or Master levels education, although some pursue additional training such as a “Diplomate” (i.e., DOM PT) which provides additional months of training (over three years). It should be noted that DOM PT are not Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and are not considered registered health care professionals unless have completed advanced medical training and licensing in their respective states / countries.

Today, less than 2% of Osteopathic Physicians regularly practice time-intensive Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in inpatient or outpatient settings mostly due to dwindling insurance reimbursement which forced Osteopathic Physicians to decide between offering OMT versus other care options.

Generally, the remaining Osteopathic Physicians who still offer OMT are trained in a 3-year General Practice / Family Medicine residency - although may have pursued a 1-year additional Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine / OMM Fellowship to polish their skills.

For other Surgical, Physiatric, Rheumatological and Neurological Osteopathic Physician subspecialists that perform OMT, they were required to complete 4-5 years of residency with more intensive training, including additional interventional and minimally-invasive procedural techniques.

Dr. Behling is that kind of Physiatric (PM&R) subspecialist who also happens to have additional fellowship training in Pain and Symptom Management for the most difficult populations of patients - those with multiple chronic medical conditions, complex pain syndromes, or those who are end-stage in their disease process (i.e., heart failure, emphysema, kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinsonism, Muscular Sclerosis (MS), advanced spinal stenosis, scoliosis, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).