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News
For the first time ever, women outnumber men among primary care osteopathic physicians (DOs), making up 50.2% of that workforce. The American Osteopathic Association's 2026 report also highlights rapid growth across the profession, with DOs now representing 14.1% of all US physicians. The trend is even more pronounced among younger doctors, with women comprising 55.4% of primary care DOs under age 35.
Women hit a historic milestone in osteopathic medicine
For the first time, women outnumber men in primary care osteopathic medicine, making up 50.2% of the workforce according to the American Osteopathic Association's 2026 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report. That's up from 49.6% last year and 46.3% less than a decade ago — a steady climb that reflects a broader generational shift in who's entering the field.
The profession itself is booming. There are now 151,240 DOs in active practice — more than double the 63,121 counted in 2010 — and DOs make up 14.1% of all practicing US physicians. Growth is spreading into historically underrepresented states, with Louisiana leading the pack at a 13.8% year-over-year increase.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: The feminization of primary care osteopathic medicine signals a long-term demographic transformation in the physician workforce, with implications for care delivery, workforce planning, and medical education pipelines.
