DO and International health

[Sqweak]

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Hi All,

I'm interested in international health and am planning to apply to just about every DO school this upcoming admissions cycle. However, after skimming through the FAQ on how different countries deal with DOs, I'm starting to worry about whether or not a DO can work internationally. I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there with similar interests or has any advice about programs/schools to focus in on?

Thanks so much!

 

[csnitchl]

I am also very interested in international health. All of those issues with being able to practice in different countries have to do with actually becoming licensed in those countries. However, you don't have to be licensed in the countries you would practice in for most international health organizations (doctors without borders, peace corps, etc.), so it's generally a non-issue.

 

[DrMom]

Hi All,

I'm interested in international health and am planning to apply to just about every DO school this upcoming admissions cycle. However, after skimming through the FAQ on how different countries deal with DOs, I'm starting to worry about whether or not a DO can work internationally. I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there with similar interests or has any advice about programs/schools to focus in on?

Thanks so much!

That list you saw only refers to receiving a permanent license to practice in those countries so unless you're wanting to actually relocate to a country, the list isn't applicable.

DOs regularly work internationally on a shorter-term basis in many of the countries that won't offer permanent licensure.

 

[Nate]

Most countries that need the help of volunteer work or "missions" do not have restrictions, they only apply if you are going to practice there for profit or for extended periods I believe. When I was in Honduras this summer, I said "Hi, I am a medical student from New Jersey, Osteopathic" and they said basically, oh cool now get in there and start doing BPs and helping out anyway I can. I could have been anyone without any type of training and they would have put me to work. The doc I worked with liked the fact I was Osteopathic and knew exactly what it was, he was actually Cuban.

Look at the big picture, the hospital I was at was the only hospital in the largest territory of the country, people had to travel down mountains for hours and hours just to get there and there were VERY few docs or nurses available to them. Most diseases are advanced by the time people get to the ER, most people had never been to a doc, so you see things you would rarely see in the US. One case in the ER was a child who drank gas out of a coca cola bottle; the parents had put the cooking gas there. The kid was so thirsty from the heat he just chugged it down. I was amazed to see such a thing but the doc there said they see a case like that every week or so. It is a worthwhile experience and I recommend it for everyone.

 

[clement]

so you see things you would rarely see in the US. .

Funny, I was literally told them same thing about NYC (as a place to study medicine/rotate)... It is true though...

BTW, to OP:
Like everyone says, you can absolutely do international work, be it relief work or rotation electives. Two schools that seem to have established international rotation programs are Western COMP and Touro-Mare Island. I think Western COMP has some program where their students can go to Spain even as first years.

 

[Sqweak]

Thanks so much to everyone for their replies. Your input was very helpful.

I'm curious -- for those of you that have already done some work in international health, where have you gone? What have you seen? What programs did you go through?

Reading Nate's post was great and I'd love to hear about other people's experiences.

 

[ivyivy]

So......is "unlimited or full scope of practice" means you can practice without licensure and "denied practice" means you need to take exams and get license in order to practice in that country? The reason that I would understand this way is I know that people who go to medical schools and receive training in other countries can not practice in US without approval of their medical courses and passing of licensure exam in the US. Please correct me if I'm wrong~

 

[DrMom]

unlimited or full scope of practice means that you can be fully licensed to practice medicine

denied practice means that you cannot currently get licensed to practice medicine

 

[ivyivy]

unlimited or full scope of practice means that you can be fully licensed to practice medicine

denied practice means that you cannot currently get licensed to practice medicine

Thanks for the clarification!