Alright ...
1. God dammit, when are these threads going to end, and why do we all feed into them (myself included)???
2. OMT - it's hard to make blanket statements and claim schools put a ton of emphasis or time on it, because it is a case by case basis. Some schools are heavy with OMT, other schools aren't so much. Also, some students like it, want to incorporate it in some way, most don't and just see it as something they had to get through or think is interesting, but won't have the time/practice to use it. However, to say there is no evidence for it is pretty absurd. There have been a lot of studies demonstrating it's efficacy for many different conditions. Hell the NEJM even wrote an article explaining how it works for back pain. Here are some journal articles if you'd like to skim a few abstracts:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=99957
People can pick the articles apart, whatever, but the point is OMM is one modality taught in DO schools, it is not the end all, and 95% of DOs (unfortunately) don't use it in practice.
3. The international practice thing ... biggest LOL of this argument. I bet if you interviewed a whole group of pre-medical students, you'd find a TON of them who wanted to do international medical missions, etc. Interview that same group in the middle of residency ... see if they give a shizznit. My guess ... they will tell you to leave them alone, they still have 60 hours to work this week. Not only this, but DOs do have a nice sect and continually expanding international practice rights. Furthermore, people assume just because you get a US MD, you can waltz into any country and hang a shingle ... this is also false. Is it easier than a DO in most cases ... yes, sure, I'm not going to deny it ... but it still isn't the international visa some people make it out to be. ALSO, most people who will do international work won't actually move to another country and open up shop, they will volunteer through an organization like doctors without boarders, etc. These organizations are DO friendly ... so you're fine.
4. Whoever said they would rather be a FMG ... look at DO match rates vs Caribbean match rates for ACGME residencies. Now factor in that DOs have their own separate, DO only, set of residencies. Landing a residency of your choice > pointless ego.
5. Educating patients - the general population is so clueless about the path to becoming a physician. It's seriously shocking. Just speak with someone you know some time ... you'll be blown away. I've had people ask me if I'm going to be just an MD or like a special doctor (the conversation ended with me thinking my bud was asking if I was going to be a GP/FP doc or like go into surgery or something), I've explained the concept of a residency to my parents a ton of times - still fumble it up, I think my dad is still convinced I get paid for my last two years of medical school, I've had people assume I already have an MD because I was pre-med in undergrad, etc, etc.
What's my point ... people are clueless, and to them, ignorance is bliss. It's a confusing situation, and they don't want to know. If you walk in a room wearing a white coat with the letters, John Doe, DO across it and say ... Hi, I'm Dr Doe, I'll be your physician today ... that's the end of that discussion. You are a doctor, they are nervous and relieved to see a doctor, end of discussion. Also, people aren't going to identify you based on your MD/DO, they will identify you by your field. The average person will google 'Dermatologist in X area,' not 'MD dermatologist in X area.' if the first, easiest result is a DO, or they are referred to a DO, they are going to the DERMATOLOGIST ... period.
Ask any DO resident, attending, etc ... they will tell you they've received the 'what's a DO' question maybe 2-3 times in like 5-8 years, and each time a 20 second explanation resulted in an 'Oh, cool.' I've never explained it to a person and had them think I'm going to some voodoo chiropractor school. It's rumors and perpetuated assumptions.
6. Choosing DO over MD ... most people don't. No argument here. At this stage in our lives, we are pretty caught up on the titles. And guess what (drum roll) there is nothing wrong with that. If you've worked your ass off and got into the US MD and you want it strictly based on the title ... go for it. Congratulations, and god bless. It's not like you're going to be at any disadvantage with it. In fact, there will be cases where you'll be in better shape for rotations and ACGME residencies. I seriously have no problem with people who just say, I want the MD so I choose it over DO, etc. I do have a problem with people who would choose FMG over DO, but that's another story.
However, it does happen ... people choose DO schools for other reasons than simply they could not get into US MD. Location, cost, family, fit, emphasis on PC, or even (gasp) an interest in OMM. Is it common ... I dunno. I personally know a few people who did it. None of them seem to regret it at all. None of them seem too caught up in this stuff though, so whatever.
Well ... there's my rant. I probably won't respond to anyone who breaks it down or anything, but feel free.
