DO vs. MD

[ejf]

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I currely have spots being held for me in both a DO and an MD school and have to make my decision this week. Maybe i should be posting under pre-osteopathic but i would like to hear from the professionals:

The philosophy behind osteopathic medicine is what interests me. I am already a public-healther. I know my approach will be preventive and holistic. But i have been told that (nationally and internationally) DOs are often viewed as second-rate physicians. I do not want to argue that point. What i want to know is if you see more doors open to the MDs over the DOs and if yes, how have you overcome this challenge?

Others have said that med school is just the first step in my medical training. For this reason i should go to MD. Then i can learn the "other stuff" later (obviously said by an MD). Is DO training more vocational? That does make sense to me, but how much of a dis/advantage is it really?

Please advise.

 

[Boomer]

BOHICA.

Bend Over. Here It Comes Again

 

[StringBean]

Please, please don't go here again. Just do a search to find your info rather then dragging this topic up again, please... it's soooo tiring 🙁

 

[DrMom]

Is DO training more vocational?

I have absolutely no idea what you mean by this.

DOs have the exact same training as MDs. They also take classes in OMM. In theory, there are philosophical differences, but in this day and age any decent medical school teaches their students to "treat the whole person" and other such tenents that are central to Osteopathic medicine. You will find some differences in school atmospheres and sometimes in how physicians practice, but there is no difference in what the training entails.

Outside of that, I recommend that you take String Bean's advice and do a search and peruse the pre-osteo and osteo forums.

And please, everyone, don't take this thread down the DO vs MD bashing line.

 

[sophiejane]

BOHICA.

Bend Over. Here It Comes Again

That is absolutely classic. I just shot diet coke out of my nose I was laughing so hard...

 

[Aaron Earles]

That is absolutely classic. I just shot diet coke out of my nose I was laughing so hard...

I absolutely hate it when that happens!

 

[gizmoduck]

So you're in multiple medical schools and don't know which you want to go to. Meanwhile here I am losing sleep wondering if I'll get in any school at all. Bastard... 😉

 

[Sharky]

But i have been told that (nationally and internationally) DOs are often viewed as second-rate physicians. I do not want to argue that point.

You don't want to argue that point because you take it as a given? Let me just say that you can't expect to make a ridiculous statement such as the above in the DO forum and expect us future DOs to give you advice.

My advice is to choose your words better next time when asking for advice. And no, DOs are 1st rate physicians.

 

[sophiejane]

vocational...hmmm....now THERE'S an idea for DO schools to make even MORE money (MacGyver, are you listening?)...

I can see it now...TCOMM: the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and Massage...

Or MIAMO: The Michigan Institute of Aeronautical Mechanics and Osteopathy...

 

[LukeWhite]

Others have said that med school is just the first step in my medical training. For this reason i should go to MD. Then i can learn the "other stuff" later (obviously said by an MD). Is DO training more vocational? That does make sense to me, but how much of a dis/advantage is it really?

Please advise.

ejf,

You make a good (though maybe suicidal, given the delicate sensibilities of the forum) point. I chose the DO route precisely because it is, as you put it well, more vocational.

My hope for an osteopathic education was that I'd learn the same block of basic knowledge as in an allopathic school. while getting a greater emphasis on the practicalities of using that information rather than just absorbing it. So far I'm very happy with how that's played out. AZCOM, at least, does a great job of focusing on the practical applications of the knowledge and getting you out into rotations that are heavily hands-on, if less didactic.

Of course, now your choice is between two schools--I'd say that the specifics of each are more important at this point than the degrees. Which one has a more established PBL component? What sort of clinical exposure do you get during your first two years? What are third and fourth years like--lots of competition in an overcrowded teaching hospital, or is there flexibility to get a lot of one-on-one time with preceptors? Lots of questions to answer in a week, but those are a few I'd look into.

If you feel comfortable naming the specific schools, I'm sure you'll get a flood of opinions on these and most everything else. Broadly, you'll get wonderful educations whichever degree you go for. Depending on the schools, though, there may be a real difference in quality, real or perceived, that people can help you out with in the coming week.

Best of luck!

 

[(nicedream)]

Osteopathic school is often considered more "vocational" because the vast majority of the schools are not university-affiliated and are stand-alone osteopathic medical schools. There is a great article by Gevitz in one of the stickys at the top of this board about how one of the things that would help osteopathic medicine's image is the establishment of our schools as "places of the mind" rather than just a place you go to learn how to be a dr. I believe all US MD schools are affiliated with a university/college. One of the things that could help alleviate the vocational image of osteopathic schools, as Gevitz suggests, is more emphasis on research - that is, the gaining of new knowledge rather than only memorizing that which already exists.

 

[Shinken]

I'm a public healther too. Let's all become public healthers.

 

[jhug]

BOHICA. Bend Over. Here It Comes Again

can i use this???🙂🙂🙂
i didn't shoot diet coke out my nose...but this is really funny!!!

 

[exia80]

Of course, now your choice is between two schools--I'd say that the specifics of each are more important at this point than the degrees. Best of luck!

i totally agree...it is about the school that you feel will be right for you. I was all set upon MD (<<dodging bullets >>) even though i liked the DO way better. this was because the schools by where I live are excelent. but i decided 2 go 2 DO school once I found out how much i preferred the atmospheres of the schools. it had to do a lot with the atmosphere (cooporation vs. competiveness) for me. and the fact that I am all for OMM that did it for me

 

[ejf]

Thank you lukewhite nicedream and exia.

As for the rest, i did not say DOs were any less than MDs...why would i if i were planning on taking that career path in the first place. i was asking for personal experience. I've heard all the MD arguements, i've read the peer reviewed journal articles (yes, all 12) and i've written a 20 page paper comparing the two fields. I just thought someone out there might have something to say that i hadn't thought of. The only thing i got from the majority of those replies was discouragement and skepticism. That's not cool.

 

[Aaron Earles]

ejf,

First, congratulations on getting accepted to medical school. To get accepted this early to multiple schools is definitely a major accomplishment. I think that the question that you ask, however, is something that you are going to have to think long and hard over. I can tell you this, either path that you choose, you will end up being a top notch physician. DOs and MDs are both licensed physicians. I think you also have to look at which school has the "personality" that you like the best. Where do you think you would better acclimate to medical school life? What kind of classmates will you have. There are positives and negatives to both routes of medicine. Osteopathic medicine is a perfect fit for me personally, and I can see why other may feel the same about allopathic medicine.

I start in less than a week and I am a little scared. Not because of where I am going, not because it is a DO school, but because I just want to succeed. You take a long, grueling path to make it this far and want the best education you can get, and at that same time dont want to have regrets for where you have chosen to go. I can fully respect that. I love where I am right now and think Pikeville is a great school, great town, with a lot to offer ME. I also feel that I have a lot to offer PIKEVILLE as well. Bottom line, chose where you will be the happiest and you wont go wrong.

I would be happy to answer any more questions that you may have, just PM me. Good luck to you in your decision. Take care.

ACE

 

[racystacey07]

Do you know what kind of medicine you want to practice? And where you want to practice? That may assist you in your decision. I sincerely believe in the DO philosophy, but other factors went into my own choice, including cost, ranking, and overall learning environment at the school. It's a personal decision. In the general medical fields, there is virtually no difference between MDs and DOs (both professionals will tell you this). A DO might be more likely to try preventative measures before prescribing meds, but this is not a rule by any means. My IM doc (who is MD) actually said that he is jealous of the DOs in his practice because they can do OMM.

 

[skypilot]

I'd say in the past ten years Osteopathic medical students participation in the Allopathic match has soared. So have the number of dual accredited residency programs and Osteopathic transitional years at allopathic hospitals.

If your MD acceptance is at Harvard or Hopkins I would take it. Otherwise, other factors may come into play.

 

[4 Ever]

Interestingly enough, I know someone who was accepted to both MD and DO programs but chose the latter - Generally its because of the philosophy that propels individuals towards the DO career but the reason stated by this individual made me almost laugh "DO school will be easier than MD school". Yup, there will be a rude awakening when classes start and its not as easy as this person thought.

 

[sophiejane]

Thank you lukewhite nicedream and exia.

As for the rest, i did not say DOs were any less than MDs...why would i if i were planning on taking that career path in the first place. i was asking for personal experience. I've heard all the MD arguements, i've read the peer reviewed journal articles (yes, all 12) and i've written a 20 page paper comparing the two fields. I just thought someone out there might have something to say that i hadn't thought of. The only thing i got from the majority of those replies was discouragement and skepticism. That's not cool.

We are all just so freakin' tired of this discussion, that sometimes we have to have some fun with it. (If you choose DO, you will know what I mean someday). Lighten up. Sounds like you have done your homework and will make the right choice.

As for me, I am totally happy with my decision and have zero regrets at this point (beginning of year 2). But I'm not you. It is a very individual thing.

Best of luck.

 

[aucgrad110]

i really do think this should be a sticky topic. then if somebody posts another topic like this........ we can blacklist them..... hehehe

 

[LukeWhite]

ejf,

Took the liberty of scanning some of your old posts--it looks like you have an interest in overseas medicine? If you're planning on going the MSF route or anything non-paying, there shouldn't really be a difference between which of the two schools you choose.

But as you probably know, if you want to practice in any of several British Commonweath countries or much of western Europe, there will be significant obstacles with the DO degree. My guess is that this will change in a decade or two, and in any case you'd have a difficult time practicing in an industrialized nation as an MD. The MD degree does have a definite advantage when it comes to worldwide name recognition, though.

This shouldn't prevent you from doing international rotations, especially in a missions-style setting, if you go the DO route. I'm planning on much the same path and am very happy with the opportunities. If you do choose the osteopathic school, you might talk to the rotations coordinator at Kirksville; they have the best and most established international rotations of any osteopathic school I know of.