Should I mention Dr. Robert C. Fulford & alternative medicine in my application essay?

[cuwhenucme]

Hi I would like to have your insights about my personal statement to apply for D.O. schools.

In my personal statement, I mentioned I am interested in alternative medicine/osteopathic medicine because I read books from Dr. Robert C. Fulford. One of my friends read it and said I should not included alternative medicine in my personal statement because it is not founded on evidence. He also suggested me not to mentioned Dr. Robert C. Fulford because he was a pioneer in the introduction of alternative and energetic medicine, both of which are not science based. He said it sounds like pseudoscience to him.

As medical students, do you think mentioning I was inspired by Dr. Robert C. Fulford after reading his books and I am interest in alternative medicine and energy medicine will hurt my chance to get into D.O. schools? Or it can be helpful with my chance to getting into D.O. schools?

Thanks a lot for your help!

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[cuwhenucme]

A small question is - Can I mention Dr. Robert C. Fulford at all in my personal statement as an important personal who got me interested in Osteopathic medicine?

 

[jl lin]

OP, honestly, you are going to get a lot of anti-bias against any form of alternative or complementary medicine--even if there are some good European studies to support it. Until there is great funding and better research, which can cause trouble with certain influential entities in medicine, a lot of people will hold their nose at the mention of it. I am not against certain forms of integrative medicine. Trouble is the profitability of long-term research. Kind of sad; but that's what rules. And it also has it's limits--example, it may become a supportive thing to wellness, but if people need surgery or a trauma surgeon, yea, well that is what they need. CAM is not going to change the need for much that is in mainstream medicine.

You will see debates back and forth here all the time. The docs that are interested and learned in the judicious use of it either remain quiet about it or they get slammed. So, b/c of the general landscape of medicine here in the US, your best bet is to avoid it.

BTW, most of Osteopathic Medicine practices the same as allopathic medicine in this country. So, in general, no. The schools and such do not refer to it as "alternative" medicine.

There is some, very small openness to it, but not much. IMHO, it is probably best to leave it out. You might find one person in 5,000 or so on an adcom that is open to it. I won't get into the argument of what it is or what it is not; but suffice it to say, there is some good research to support it's judicious usage in terms of wellness for the right people under the right circumstances. Prevention and wellness, however, are big issues. What that actually means may mean different things to different practitioners.

 

[hallowmann]

I would not conflate osteopathic medicine and alternative medicine. OMT may essentially be a CAM, but OMM is believed by those who dedicated themselves to osteopathic education as the practice of medicine by applying the principles of osteopathy (body is a unit, structure & function, etc.).

Some people might agree with you, but there's a good chance many will also disagree. Generally it's better to leave such potentially controversial concepts out of your personal statement.

Now that said, you could certainly talk about how you were inspired after reading this DO's books, and how that led you to osteopathic medicine, but again don't play too heavily on the whole alternative/energetic medicine aspects.

This is all assuming you want to be safe, which I recommend. If you don't play it safe, you might get points with some OPP professors if they're on the adcom, but you might turn off a hefty number of PhDs normally on it.

 

[cuwhenucme]

Thank you very much for your reply! I am so glad that I asked you guys before I sent out my personal statement.

So, you suggestion is that not to mention Dr. Robert Fulford at all?

Can I even mention that I am interested in OMM/OMT because it is a effective treatment for pain, as Dr. Robert Fulford mentioned in his book that he has help so many patients with chronic pain to relieve their pain, and those pain were untreated by other physicians until he used his manipulative techniques to help them figure out where the pain is from and how to treat it?

OP, honestly, you are going to get a lot of anti-bias against any form of alternative or complementary medicine--even if there are some good European studies to support it. Until there is great funding and better research, which can cause trouble with certain influential entities in medicine, a lot of people will hold their nose at the mention of it. I am not against certain forms of integrative medicine. Trouble is the profitability of long-term research. Kind of sad; but that's what rules. And it also has it's limits--example, it may become a supportive thing to wellness, but if people need surgery or a trauma surgeon, yea, well that is what they need. CAM is not going to change the need for much that is in mainstream medicine.

You will see debates back and forth here all the time. The docs that are interested and learned in the judicious use of it either remain quiet about it or they get slammed. So, b/c of the general landscape of medicine here in the US, you best bet is to avoid it.

BTW, most of Osteopathic Medicine practices the same as allopathic medicine in this country. So, in general, no. The schools and such do not refer to it as "alternative" medicine.

There is some, very small openness to it, but not much. IMHO, it is probably best to leave it out. You might find one person in 5,000 or so on an adcom that is open to it. I won't get into the argument of what it is or what it is not; but suffice it to say, there is some good research to support it's judicious usage in terms of wellness for the right people under the right circumstances. Prevention and wellness, however, are big issues. What that actually means may mean different things to different practitioners.

 

[CrocodilePancake]

Thank you very much for your reply! I am so glad that I asked you guys before I sent out my personal statement.

So, you suggestion is that not to mention Dr. Robert Fulford at all?

Can I even mention that I am interested in OMM/OMT because it is a effective treatment for pain, as Dr. Robert Fulford mentioned in his book that he has help so many patients with chronic pain to relieve their pain, and those pain were untreated by other physicians until he used his manipulative techniques to help them figure out where the pain is from and how to treat it?

I don't think it would hurt you to mention your interest in OMT and its potential benefits for musculoskeletal issues, even giving your book/doc as an example, but I'd avoid overly praising a single doctor (we already have enough AT Still worship as it is)

 

[cuwhenucme]

I don't think it would hurt you to mention your interest in OMT and its potential benefits for musculoskeletal issues, even giving your book/doc as an example, but I'd avoid overly praising a single doctor (we already have enough AT Still worship as it is)

Thanks. I didn't know Dr. A T still also used OMM to help patients with pain management. if yes, I will also mention.
I know his big influence but I just want to relate everything with pain management, since this is the specialty I want to do in the future.

 

[jl lin]

I don't think it would hurt you to mention your interest in OMT and its potential benefits for musculoskeletal issues, even giving your book/doc as an example, but I'd avoid overly praising a single doctor (we already have enough AT Still worship as it is)

Agree with ^ this.

 

[SurgeDO]

depends who reads your personal statement.

if your application falls into the hands of one of the OMM faculty quacks, they will eat that **** up. the majority of them at my school think you can cure brain cancer with magnets and tossin' the ol' skull bones around.

if your application falls into the hands of anyone that even slightly values rational thought and the scientific process, you will be torn up. let me assure you though, these people are rarely found in the administration of DO schools.

 

[costales]

Never heard of the guy. Sounds like he belongs in a museum, along with the Sutherland bunch.

 

[Doctor Bob]

I read books from Dr. Robert C. Fulford.

He also suggested me not to mentioned Dr. Robert C. Fulford

I was inspired by Dr. Robert C. Fulford

Can I mention Dr. Robert C. Fulford

So, you suggestion is that not to mention Dr. Robert Fulford at all?

as Dr. Robert Fulford mentioned in his book

Oh no... you should totally mention it. And use his full name (middle initial included) as often as possible; as you have done here. It doesn't sound strange in any way.

I would refer to him in a different manner just once though... to show some familiarity.
"I was really inspired by The Fulf; he changed my life."

 

[DocVapor]

Oh no... you should totally mention it. And use his full name (middle initial included) as often as possible; as you have done here. It doesn't sound strange in any way..

I would refer to him in a different manner just once though... to show some familiarity..
"I was really inspired by The Fulf; he changed my life."

Hmmmm.... Dr. Robert C. Fulford could also be shortened to.... Doctor Bob. Coincidence?

I think not!

 

[CrookedCucumber]

I wouldn't include it.

 

[MrChance2]

Don't step on any landmines when writing your application. The rest is up to you.

 

[dreday710]

I did mention integrative health and my reasons for wanting to pursue it in my statement. I had 8 interviews, and was accepted to my first choice of school. Please message me for details, as talking about this subject on SDN gets out of hand quickly.

 

[ERK123]

I think it is fine to mention a desire to explore complementary medicine (I would not mention alternative medicine alone) and OMT in order to diminish the deficit in treatment that sometimes exists with traditional medicine. I would not mention a specific person of influence because who knows what types of things this person advocated throughout his career and how he is proceed today? You do not want to risk such things in a personal statement. You want to show that you critically evaluate information from both the positives and the faults. I think even writing a worship essay about Dr. Still would be perceived negatively by most in the osteopathic community. We know more now then those who came before us.

 

[NurWollen]

Some thoughts.

The bias of SDN, and my own bias, are heavily against CAM/alternative/integrative medicine. That said, I don't think that's as universal in the medical field as one might think. If you browse allopathic residency websites, you'll see a fair number of residents who express an interest in things like acupuncture, integrative medicine, etc.

As far as the OMM specialists go, I feel like most of our faculty view OMM as separate from CAM, as legitimate as any form modern medicine. They would try to distance themselves from CAM for the same reasons they like to bash chiropractic... it makes them feel like OMM is more legitimate and mainstream. A lot of DOs felt betrayed when Upledger decided to train non-physicians in cranial... it's like they thought he was bastardizing it. The tell stories of fallings out and rapprochements... lots of drama.

Other OMM faculty eat up all sorts of alternative treatments. They love it. The sing the praises of Andrew Weil and such.

To their credit, most don't sink to Joseph Mercola's level of antivaccinism. He's one DO who makes a mockery of the profession.

As others have said, it's hard to know how adcoms are going to react. Your definitely safe talking get about mainstream osteopathy, but anything else is risky. Could help, could hurt, probably best to leave it out.

 

[Goro]

Save it for interviews, especially if a DO is interviewing you.

I love my OMT DO colleagues dearly, and they are my go-to people when I have musculoskeletal issues, but this guy is one of those "true believers" whose devotion to OMT is, well fanatical. Natural healing energy? No.

The man hasn't even published a single article in an osteopathic journal, much less any peer reviewed journal!

Hi I would like to have your insights about my personal statement to apply for D.O. schools.

In my personal statement, I mentioned I am interested in alternative medicine/osteopathic medicine because I read books from Dr. Robert C. Fulford. One of my friends read it and said I should not included alternative medicine in my personal statement because it is not founded on evidence. He also suggested me not to mentioned Dr. Robert C. Fulford because he was a pioneer in the introduction of alternative and energetic medicine, both of which are not science based. He said it sounds like pseudoscience to him.

As medical students, do you think mentioning I was inspired by Dr. Robert C. Fulford after reading his books and I am interest in alternative medicine and energy medicine will hurt my chance to get into D.O. schools? Or it can be helpful with my chance to getting into D.O. schools?

Thanks a lot for your help!.

 

[Dharma]

I don't think there is anything wrong w mentioning Fulford as an intro to hearing about OMT (his book my introduction). I just wouldn't take it into lala-land and get too "alternative." Showing interest in OMT is a plus, IMO.

 

[GlowInTheDark]

Did you feel an electric current flow through you when you read that book?

 

[GlowInTheDark]

double post

 

[Doctor Bob]

Did you feel an electric current flow through you when you read that book?

Did you feel an electric shock when you read that book?

It's electric! Boogie woogie woogie.

 

[deleted480308]

Fulford....ok. The word "alternative"? Hell no