Women Become Majority of Primary Care DOs

Women now account for 50.2% of osteopathic physicians practicing primary care, according to the American Osteopathic Association's 2026 profession report.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Alternative Medicine

Women Become Majority of Primary Care DOs

Live Poll

Do you trust your local primary care doctors to meet your family's needs?

Women make up most of the osteopathic physicians (DOs) practicing primary care for the first time, reaching 50.2% overall. The number of women DOs under age 45 also surpassed 50,000 for the first time.

Why it matters

The shift reflects a growing share of women in the osteopathic profession, which now includes over 218,000 physicians and students nationwide. Primary care is a core focus of the DO profession, where 55% of physicians practice.

The figures come from the 2026 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report, which shows women at 55.4% of primary care DOs under age 35. Active DO practitioners numbered 151,240 in 2026, compared with 63,121 in 2010, though the report does not break down how many of those practice in primary care.

The players

American Osteopathic Association

The American Osteopathic Association is the national professional organization representing osteopathic physicians and medical students in the United States.

The details

Women represent 50.2% of DOs practicing primary care, rising from 49.6% the prior year, according to the 2026 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report. The number of DOs grew in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., while a record 93.2% of DO seniors matched in the 2026 Main Residency Match.

• 2010: Active DO practitioners numbered 63,121.
• 2025: Total osteopathic physicians and students numbered 207,158.
• 2026: Women reached 50.2% of primary care DOs; total DOs and students exceeded 218,000.

Big Picture

The 2026 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report extends the American Osteopathic Association's annual tracking of DO workforce growth, which since 2010 has seen active practitioners rise from 63,121 to 151,240. The latest figures continue that pattern, with women's share of primary care rising steadily across recent years.

Patients seeing a primary care physician in osteopathic practice are increasingly likely to be treated by a woman, as the workforce composition shifts. The growing number of DOs also expands the pool of physicians available for primary care appointments.

The takeaway

The growing share of women in primary care reflects a broader change in who delivers osteopathic medicine. Readers choosing a primary care doctor can now expect a workforce that is evenly split by gender.