Current Occupational Therapist wanting to go MD- seeking advice

[jepOTD]

Hello all!

I recently graduated with my OTD (doctor of occupational therapy) and I am looking into the possibility of returning to medical school. (It's been my goal all along, but sadly didn't have the guts to go for it in undergrad.)

A bit of background:

Undergrad- 3.95 GPA
My undergraduate studies were in exercise science. I took courses in anatomy and physiology, psychology, sociology, stats, medical terminology. I had 8 credit hours of biology from AP courses and also took zoology course. I took a healthcare chemistry course, equivalent to General Chemistry 1. I feel my studies are lacking in Chem and Physics.

Graduate school GPA- 3.84.
Doctoral level courses in Anatomy and physiology (with cadaver lab), healthcare ethics, clinical pathophysiology, cultural studies, neuroscience, quantitative and qualitative research, cognition/perception disorders, geriatric conditions, pediatric conditions, orthopedic conditions. I have clinical (work) experience in pediatrics as well as neurological, pulmonary, behavioral and cardiac conditions.

I'm looking to apply to medical schools in 2 years, so I can take my time studying for the MCAT and have financial backing.

My questions are:
1.) Where should I even start? Do I need to take physics and chem courses? or am I OK to just study like a mad man and take the MCAT?
2.) Can my doctorate degree supplement where my undergraduate is lacking? Will they even really look at it? Will it give me an edge?
3.) Help. (lol)

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[RNthenDoc]

1. You’ll need to knock out prerequisites. Allied health chemistry (assuming that’s what you took) doesn’t work for medical school. I personally wouldn’t want the task of trying to do well on the MCAT having not taken the appropriate courses. You need to keep your GPA up, but it looks like you’re starting from a good foundation!

2. Kind of! It makes you an interesting candidate in my opinion, but more learned folks will chime in. 🙂 I came from the RN world, so be prepared to be asked a million times why you want to make the switch, and build a narrative that paints you in a better light. “I didn’t have the guts” isn’t a great look, but “realizing what I always truly wanted to do” sounds more positive!

A lot of your anatomy education will help a ton.