When physician credentials, artificial intelligence in the exam room, and surrogacy generated enough reader mail to warrant a public reply, STAT published the letters. The health and life sciences publication collected those responses in First Opinion, its platform for commentary from health care workers, biotech insiders, and researchers. The credential discussion centers on M.D. versus D.O., where D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a degree that pairs standard clinical training with an emphasis on musculoskeletal medicine.
First Opinion publishes essays by people working across the life sciences. When those essays draw reader response, STAT selects letters and runs them alongside the original work. The outlet says the goal is to encourage what it calls good-faith discussion about the issues each essay raises.
Readers can submit letters through a form found at the end of any First Opinion essay.