DO vs MD????

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

jayalhugh

New Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2001
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Peace everybody.

I've recently become interested in pursuing a DO degree. I understand that DO's take the same licensing exam and share for the most part identical practing rights as MDs. My question is, in what ways might a DO degree be limiting in comparison to an MD? In the same respect, how do MD's suffer from not having undergone osteopathic training? What are some of the disadvantages of taking the DO path to practicing medicine? Thanks everyone, be blessed.

peace,
jayalhugh

Members don't see this ad.
 
I suggest that you use the "search" feature on this forum and research this topic. It seems to be a popular thread and I'm sure that you'll find it's been well covered.
 
Yep, this one has been done ad nauseum.

Anyways, because I'm bored I'll give you my take on things.

First, DOs can take the same licensing exam as MDs (USMLE), but in order to become a DO first must complete the AOA's licensing board, the COMLEX. DO students will sometimes take both, because unlike MD students, we can apply for both DO and MD residencies (and some allopathic residencies still want you to take the allopathic exam).

Second, the practicing rights of MDs and DOs in the States are the same. Both are fully-licensed physicians. However, some countries do not recognize the DO as a medical doctor (mostly because of the different definitions of DO abroad) and so if a DO wanted to practice out of the country s/he might encounter additional difficulties that an MD would be spared. However, as I hear it, most of the foreign countries in which this problem exists give a hard time to any foreign doc wanting to practice w/in their borders.

Third, DO schools tend to graduate more primary care docs that most MD schools. This fact can be rather decieving, however, since pre-meds often think that this means that they can't pursue a medical sub-specialty if they go DO. Its true that there are way more MD sub-specialty residencies out there than DO sub-specialty residencies. However, nothing prevents DOs from applying for these allopathic residencies. The major barrier here is that matching to a residency often depends on who you know, and since most of these residencies are allopathic MD applicants may have an advantage over the DO applicants. Historically the majority of DOs have practiced primary care medicine, however with each passing year the number of DO specialists increases.

Lastly, as you (hopefully) know, the major difference b/t the two practices is that DOs are taught manipulation as an additional modality of treatment. One of the key tenets behind this modality is that musculo-skeletal dysfunction can lead to the disruption of a patient's health, thus diagnosing and treating the dysfunction will lead the body back towards its natural equillibrium (i.e. health). Whether DOs use this modality after completing med school is up to them...there are no requirements that mandate that a DO do OMM. However, I feel its a nice 'extra-tool' that most MDs don't have in their repertoire. Whether this "disadvantages" MDs I cannot say.

Hope this has helped.
 
Top