Citing physical therapy exerience as reason for being interested in DO?

[PapaDeath]

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Hey all,

I was wondering how it would appear to DO schools if I said that my interest in osteopathic medicine came about because of my interest in both medicine and physical therapy. I have worked in a physical therapy clinic for a while and when I found out that osteopaths used manipulative treatment, I became genuinely interested. I'm also interested in the more holistic approach to medicine (even though I know DOs and MDs are becoming more and more alike by the second). I was just wondering if this interest in physical therapy/manipulation/holistic medicine/preventive medicine may come off as a weak motivation to pursue osteopathic medicine. One of my reasons for wanting to say this is that I've tried so incredibly hard to shadow osteopaths in my area but none of them will take me. They only take 3rd and 4th year DO students for their rotations. So I basically will be telling schools I want to be a DO and never got to experience one. I will have a letter from an MD, but I plan to only apply to DO schools. The physical therapist I work with does use a few osteopathic techniques, which is something else I could say, but I think that's kind of weak. What's your guys take on this? Thanks for the input!

 

[raebear]

I think it's a perfectly good reason to be interested in osteopathic medicine. These days one of the only really major difference between allopathic and osteopathic medical schools is manipulative medicine, so I think it's perfectly fine to use that as your reason for wanting to be a DO. I had some experience in athletic training and in my secondaries and interviews talked about how I am extremely excited by the idea of OMM. I'm sorry it's been so difficult for you to find a DO to shadow... not having a letter from a DO will limit the DO schools that you can apply to because some do require it. But for the handful of schools that don't require it I think you have a very valid, honest reason for being interested in the profession.

 

[sylvanthus]

OP- Don't worry about the DO letter. I did not have one either and was able to apply to 16 DO programs and did not have a problem.

 

[Tekar]

I think it's a perfectly good reason to be interested in osteopathic medicine. These days one of the only really major difference between allopathic and osteopathic medical schools is manipulative medicine, so I think it's perfectly fine to use that as your reason for wanting to be a DO. I had some experience in athletic training and in my secondaries and interviews talked about how I am extremely excited by the idea of OMM. I'm sorry it's been so difficult for you to find a DO to shadow... not having a letter from a DO will limit the DO schools that you can apply to because some do require it. But for the handful of schools that don't require it I think you have a very valid, honest reason for being interested in the profession.

Couldn't agree more, I used the effectiveness of OMM on people of influence while DO's were fighting for their profession as a reason. It worked enough for governors to shoot down AMA actions to limit it, there must be something behind it.

 

[SolanoDoc]

DOs are not physical therapists and in some cases you will be asked on an interview about your shadowing experience and your knowledge of osteopathic medicine. The DOs I shadowed trained in Allopathic MD residencies and their method of practice was no different than that of MDs, pretty much identical except for the letters following their names. In some cases that could nail you on the interview, some DOs make a big deal about OMM and how it relates to medical practice and others do not.

 

[123165]

DOs are not physical therapists and in some cases you will be asked on an interview about your shadowing experience and your knowledge of osteopathic medicine. The DOs I shadowed trained in Allopathic MD residencies and their method of practice was no different than that of MDs, pretty much identical except for the letters following their names. In some cases that could nail you on the interview, some DOs make a big deal about OMM and how it relates to medical practice and others do not.

In my interviews, I banked on them thinking the DO philosophy is a big deal. I would highly recommend approaching interviews from this angle. This does not mean you have to lay it on super-thick though.