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7th Oct, 2026 12:00 AM

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Women Now Outnumber Men Among Primary Care DOs

Women now outnumber men among osteopathic physicians who practice primary care, making up 50.2% of the workforce for the first time, according to a new report from the American Osteopathic Association.

Last year, 49.6% of primary care doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) were women, compared with 46.3% less than a decade ago. Women now represent 46.1% of all DOs in active practice, the report found.

The findings come as osteopathic medicine continues to expand nationwide, with DOs now representing 14.1% of all practicing US physicians and more than 29% of medical students attending osteopathic medical school.

More than 50,000 women younger than age 45 are practicing as DOs, crossing that mark for the first time this year, according to the report; the number has reached 50,252.

Article Key Points

Women = 50.2% of primary care DOs; first majority year.
Women = 46.1% of all active DOs; ↑ from 46.3% <10 years ago.
151,240 DOs in active practice; 55% in primary care.
Women <45 yrs practicing DOs >50,000; age <35 primary care DOs 55.4% women.
DO workforce ↑ in all 50 states + DC; 93.2% matched to residency.

Dive Deeper

What drives female predominance in primary care DOs?

How does DO gender affect specialty choice over time?

Which states show fastest DO workforce growth?

The number is higher among younger physicians, with women making up 55.4% of primary care DOs younger than age 35.

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The American Osteopathic Association released its 2026 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report on October 1. The group conducts the survey each year to provide updates on the growth in the osteopathic profession.

The report found 151,240 DOs are in active practice, with 67.7% younger than age 45 and 55% working in primary care. In 2010, that number was 63,121.

This year, the number of DOs increased in all 50 states and Washington, DC, with 20 states surpassing the 6% national growth rate.

The profession is also growing in states where DOs have historically been less common.

Louisiana led all states, with a 13.8% year-over-year increase, followed by Idaho at 11%, Nevada at 10.4%, New Mexico at 9.7%, and Arkansas at 8.6%.

A record 93.2% of DO seniors matched into residency programs through the 2026 National Resident Matching Program main match (0.6% increase from 2025), and 41,001 students are enrolled in osteopathic medical schools, according to the report.

Dive Deeper

Commonly Asked by HCPs

Q: How do osteopathic primary care training pathways differ from allopathic pathways?

A: Osteopathic and allopathic training share core primary care competencies, but DO education also emphasizes musculoskeletal assessment and manipulative treatment. Clinicians researching this topic often compare residency pathways, scope of practice, board certification, and how training structure may influence primary care supply and geographic distribution.

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Q: How does physician gender distribution affect primary care practice patterns and leadership?

A: Gender distribution in primary care can affect career progression, leadership representation, work-life integration, and practice organization. Broader research often examines whether female physicians experience different patient panel characteristics, scheduling patterns, compensation gaps, and advancement opportunities within primary care settings.

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Q: What are the retention and burnout issues affecting early-career primary care physicians?

A: Retention in early-career primary care is influenced by workload, administrative burden, compensation, call demands, team support, and burnout risk. Clinicians researching workforce stability often focus on interventions that improve job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and sustain primary care capacity during the first years of practice.

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Q: How do workforce trends affect primary care access in underserved regions?

A: Primary care workforce trends are closely tied to access, especially in rural and underserved communities where physician shortages can limit continuity and preventive care. Physicians reviewing this topic often look at distribution, practice location incentives, state-level workforce growth, and how graduate medical education pipelines affect local access.

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Q: What factors influence specialty choice among osteopathic medical students entering primary care?

A: Specialty choice in osteopathic medical students is shaped by mentorship, primary care exposure, debt burden, lifestyle considerations, geographic preference, and perceived workforce need. Research commonly explores how these factors affect entry into family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, as well as strategies that improve primary care recruitment.

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