DO turned MD?

[TFR1515]

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hey,

i'm currently enrolled in D.O. school but i'm considering to reapply to an allopathic school. i would reapply as a first yr student, rather than as a transfer (b/c curriculum may vary between schools).

does anyone know of someone in their class that previously matriculated at a D.O. school?

 

[velo]

that sounds like a waste of money, do you have a very strong reason to transfer from the DO program?

 

[StudentDoc327]

hey,

i'm currently enrolled in D.O. school but i'm considering to reapply to an allopathic school. i would reapply as a first yr student, rather than as a transfer (b/c curriculum may vary between schools).

does anyone know of someone in their class that previously matriculated at a D.O. school?

I had a friend who tried that and never got into an MD school (he tried for like 5 years in a row)... be careful

I think there is a question on the app that asks if you have ever been previously accepted to a US medical school and if so why you did not attend.

 

[Dr. McDreamy]

i met a girl at my school who transferred from a DO school. so i guess it's possible. doyou seriously kick some as$ at your current school?

 

[georgefred]

I transferred from a DO school to an MD school, after I finished my second year. Transferring is obviously possible, but you need to make sure that it really means that much to you. If you are convinced that you want to go the MD route then go for it. My advice is to stay at the DO school until you finish year 2 and then try and transfer. I don't think it is worth dropping out and starting over, and you never know what might happen - you might like your school more than you think and not want to transfer. You are in medical school and will become a doctor, if you drop-out to try to get into an MD school you might not be accepted and then you are SOL. Stay in school and see what happens after year 2.

 

[Church]

Honestly, WHY switch?

 

[Callogician]

Honestly, WHY switch?

Yeah seriously. Why in the world would you switch?

 

[silas2642]

hey,

i'm currently enrolled in D.O. school but i'm considering to reapply to an allopathic school. i would reapply as a first yr student, rather than as a transfer (b/c curriculum may vary between schools).

does anyone know of someone in their class that previously matriculated at a D.O. school?

I agree with the previous poster: why switch. And this question is coming from
a student enrolled in an allopathic program-- seriously, is there such a big difference between the two that you're willing to drop tens of thousands of more dollars and repeat first year (yuck).

 

[TFR1515]

thanks for the replies 🙂 . i have two main reasons for wanting to switch, and a third that isn't as important:

1) international degree acceptance - my ultimate goal is to serve others abroad, especially in my native country. unfortunately, the DO degree isn't recognized by certain countries (including my own). this is mostly due to the standard of DOs in other nations (e.g. DOs in Europe aren't trained as well as the DOs in the US and focus more on OMM). after recently completing books and hearing stories about "always following your dream," (sounds corny but it's true), i don't want to limit myself when im already aware of the ceiling on DOs internationally.

2) competitive residencies - this truly never mattered to me until someone explained the importance of a competitive residency. i had a misconception that doctors ONLY desired competitive residencies for prestige and salary. however, there's more to it... a competitive residency will optimize learning for the resident--less scut work & more time spent on cases. the exposure accrued during this "extra" time will (hopefully) make me a knowledgable doc.

there's a huge deficit of surgeons in underdeveloped nations, and i'm very interested in surgery. even though many DO surgeons exist, i wonder how many of them were accepted into a competitive residency. granted, an MD doesnt automatically qualify you for the best program available, but it does contribute to the match game.

3) change of state - this is just a minor reason and a lifestyle choice, but I NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE. i can't stay in my state anymore; i am dying for a change of scenery. i prefer to move to ma, pa, il, fl, or ca.. or just anywhere outside my current state of residence is fine by me. i love to travel and i wanted to live in a diff state ever since college (but couldnt for extenuating circumstances). i chose to attend this DO school b/c of its proximity to loved ones, but my innerself's desire to leave this state is bustin out.

I wanted to reapply as a first yr rather than transfer b/c i fear that the transition won't be smooth. I'm looking for other transfers who can confirm (or contest) my preconceived notion.

Fortunately, money isn't much of an issue for me. I have a decent amount of money in my bank account (I won't need a loan until the latter half of third yr) and I can also rely on my family for financial support if necessary.

 

[lilnoelle]

I could be wrong here.... but I'm guessing the healthcare scene will look quite a bit different by the time we are out in practice. It will be 8 years before I will actually be out on my own. As time goes on the DO profession is getting to be equal with MD... in fact, most would say (I would agree) that they are already equal. I can't imagine it will be very long before this is internationally noticed as well. Maybe not all DO=MD, but at least US DO=MD. It could very well be that by the time we are done with residency, you wouldn't have to worry about the distinction in foreign countries.
Honestly, you should be able to get into a good residency as a DO - provided you are a competetive student.
As far as money is concerned - its great that you are blessed with plenty, but your responsibilities as far as wasting it should be the same as those with less. There are better things that can be done with that money.
I would definitely stay where you are. Its unfortunate that you came upon certain information late, but thats just it, its late, you've made your decision, do what you can to make it the best it can be.

 

[oburger]

Make sure switching is what you really want to do. Then make your switch.

You seem pretty set on an MD anyways, make sure when you get into a MD school, its lives up to your expections.

 

[tkim]

I'm curious - which foreign country is this that you want to practice in?

Also echo the above advice - stick it out until end of 2nd year, take step I USMLE, then apply for transfer. You save two years of time and tuition if you do this.

 

[njbmd]

I could be wrong here.... but I'm guessing the healthcare scene will look quite a bit different by the time we are out in practice. It will be 8 years before I will actually be out on my own. As time goes on the DO profession is getting to be equal with MD... in fact, most would say (I would agree) that they are already equal. I can't imagine it will be very long before this is internationally noticed as well. Maybe not all DO=MD, but at least US DO=MD.

DO = MD in 2006. DO is better than FMG MD in 2006. If anyone is dead set on practicing overseas, then apply for medical school overseas and get the FMG MD. If you are interested in working as a physician in the United States (and most of the world is clamoring to do this), stay with the DO and never look back.

njbmd🙂

 

[beastmaster]

1) international degree acceptance - my ultimate goal is to serve others abroad, especially in my native country. unfortunately, the DO degree isn't recognized by certain countries (including my own). this is mostly due to the standard of DOs in other nations (e.g. DOs in Europe aren't trained as well as the DOs in the US and focus more on OMM). after recently completing books and hearing stories about "always following your dream," (sounds corny but it's true), i don't want to limit myself when im already aware of the ceiling on DOs internationally.

Many countries that do not recognize the DO degree (or the MD degree) will make every exception necessary to accomodate pro bono missions by American medical teams.

You start to run into problems if you try to set up a private medical business on their soil. At that point, even with an MD, you have to jump through many hoops to re-acredit yourself through their government's medical licensing organizations.

Keep in mind that many things will change in the next 10 years, regarding how american physicians perform their duties abroad.

 

[TFR1515]

thanks for all the helpful feedback, folks! i've decided to stay at my current school and hope everything else will just fall into place. what's the point of planning the next 15yrs if we don't know what tomorrow will bring, right?

 

[USArmyDoc]

thanks for all the helpful feedback, folks! i've decided to stay at my current school and hope everything else will just fall into place. what's the point of planning the next 15yrs if we don't know what tomorrow will bring, right?

Good choice!! Good luck

 

[GonnaBeAnMD]

thanks for all the helpful feedback, folks! i've decided to stay at my current school and hope everything else will just fall into place. what's the point of planning the next 15yrs if we don't know what tomorrow will bring, right?

Good choice.. in the mean time, see what you can do to get Osteopathic Medicine recognized in your country. There may be something you can do to make a difference (have US D.O.s recognized as equivalent to US M.D.)

 

[Miami_med]

Many countries that do not recognize the DO degree (or the MD degree) will make every exception necessary to accomodate pro bono missions by American medical teams.

You start to run into problems if you try to set up a private medical business on their soil. At that point, even with an MD, you have to jump through many hoops to re-acredit yourself through their government's medical licensing organizations.

Keep in mind that many things will change in the next 10 years, regarding how american physicians perform their duties abroad.

I was part of a group that did a medical mission in Central America earlier this year. Half of our doctors were DO. It was NOT a problem. Good luck.

 

[Shinken]

1) international degree acceptance - my ultimate goal is to serve others abroad, especially in my native country. unfortunately, the DO degree isn't recognized by certain countries (including my own). this is mostly due to the standard of DOs in other nations (e.g. DOs in Europe aren't trained as well as the DOs in the US and focus more on OMM). after recently completing books and hearing stories about "always following your dream," (sounds corny but it's true), i don't want to limit myself when im already aware of the ceiling on DOs internationally.

Just to clarify, DOs in Europe are trained exclusively in OMM techniques and not in traditional "allopathic" style medicine. So basically, DOs in Europe and DOs in the US are trained in completely different ways. And yes, DOs in Europe are much better at OMM than DOs in the US (it should be obvious why that is).

 

[WestcoastMedicine]

It is my understanding the Osteopaths (not sure they actually receive a D.O. degree) in Europe are only trained in manipulation and thus are not medical doctors so to speak. They practice manual medicine only.
The list provided by the AOA of what countries accept the DO degree is for establishing a practice in the country/licensure to practice as was stated above. I have spoke to several DOs who participate in mission trips all over the world and have never had an issue with their medical degree for short term missions.

 

[BlondeCookie]

DO = MD in 2006. DO is better than FMG MD in 2006.

njbmd🙂

I disagree with this blanket statement. I attend a school not in the USA and it isn't some offshore Carib school catering to Americans. Many of the Commonwealth nations (UK, Australia, New Zealand, S Africa, etc) severely limit the practice of DOs in their respective countries. These countries consider the MD as equivalent to their own MBBS or MBChB. The DO degree is not equivalent. In the USA maybe, but certainly not worldwide. So, if the original poster wants to move back to his home country upon finishing med school, then he should not do a DO degree since he is certain that degree will restrict him from getting licensed.

 

[USArmyDoc]

I disagree with this blanket statement. I attend a school not in the USA and it isn't some offshore Carib school catering to Americans. Many of the Commonwealth nations (UK, Australia, New Zealand, S Africa, etc) severely limit the practice of DOs in their respective countries. These countries consider the MD as equivalent to their own MBBS or MBChB. The DO degree is not equivalent. In the USA maybe, but certainly not worldwide. So, if the original poster wants to move back to his home country upon finishing med school, then he should not do a DO degree since he is certain that degree will restrict him from getting licensed.

The poster was referring to the US. In the US, they are equal. I see your point though.

 

[sjrich01]

I'll tell you up front that the god majority of medical schools won't give you the time of day if they know you've already started DO school somewhere else, but there is a guy in our class who has already completed a year of DO school. I would just be sure its a boat you really want to jump into before hand. Becasuse if your DO school finds out your trying to leave and you don't get in to an allopath school you might offend the people your going to be looking for recomendations from in the future.

Good luck

 

[Smackey]

I disagree with this blanket statement. I attend a school not in the USA and it isn't some offshore Carib school catering to Americans. Many of the Commonwealth nations (UK, Australia, New Zealand, S Africa, etc) severely limit the practice of DOs in their respective countries. These countries consider the MD as equivalent to their own MBBS or MBChB. The DO degree is not equivalent. In the USA maybe, but certainly not worldwide. So, if the original poster wants to move back to his home country upon finishing med school, then he should not do a DO degree since he is certain that degree will restrict him from getting licensed.

This is not actually the case. In the common wealth countries there is a distinction between US trained DOs vs. otherwise trained DOs. In Europe a DO is much more similar to a chiropractor than a doctor. They cannot write Rx, admit, Etc. US Trained DOs have exactly the same privileges in the UK that they do in the US. There is no distinction. In fact it was recently passed that the commonwealth countries can license true US style DOs(can't find the article, busy studying for pathology).

As far as worldwide goes, DOs are not recognized everywhere yet. However that is simply because only 5% of doctors in the US are DOs so most countries have never heard of them. However the list is getting very long these days and keeps growing. I doubt it will be long before a US trained DO is universally accepted.