What kind of doctor is not consider a medical doctor?

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) is a fully licensed physician and surgeon, but they are not considered a "Medical Doctor" (M.D.) in the sense of having an M.D. degree. They have a different, but equally rigorous, medical education and training. The distinction is largely historical and the practical difference in practice is minimal.

Other doctors who aren't medical doctors in the M.D./D.O. sense include those with doctoral degrees in other fields, such as:

* Ph.D.s (Doctors of Philosophy): These are research-focused degrees, often in fields related to medicine like biology or pharmacology, but they don't grant medical licensure.

* Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.): Chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal system.

* Doctors of Optometry (O.D.): Optometrists specialize in eye care.

* Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.): Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle care.

* Doctors of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.): Dentists specialize in oral health.

* Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.): Veterinarians care for animals.

The key difference is that while all these professionals hold doctoral degrees and are "doctors," only M.D.s and D.O.s are licensed to practice general medicine and surgery.